Backline to stay thin

GEELONG coach Mark Thompson is more than happy for his team to be warming up for September with some tight finishes, although it looks like they will have to play again next week with an undersized and makeshift backline.

The Cats were without three talls against Adelaide with groin strains – Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor were injured against Hawthorn, and Tom Lonergan was a late withdrawal – which only increased the pressure on the defensive end.

After the game, Thompson was not confident of regaining any of the trio for next week's clash with Carlton.

"We probably won't have any of them, really, I don't think at this early stage," he said after the Cats eked out a two-point win at Skilled Stadium.

"But that's an early call without knowing too much."

Defender Darren Milburn played his 250th game for the Cats, and was terrific in a Cats backline that spent significant parts of the second half under siege.

"I thought they did remarkably well, especially early I thought they really beat their opponents," Thompson said.

"We were a little bit small compared to our opponents, but Milburn playing on a 200cm guy was outstanding. [Andrew] Mackie – until he got a real knock on his back was sensational, Joel Corey – we wanted him down back and we also needed him in the midfield, so he's made a bit of a sacrifice.

"Generally I think we've coped well, but obviously we'd prefer to have Scarlett, Taylor and Lonergan back."

Thompson said Milburn's milestone was key factor in the win.

"I think the guys really played for Darren Milburn today, we made a big focus (on him) – we've got a guy here that's played 250, and there's only six other people in the history of our club who have played more games than him, and he's joined a very elite club.

"It was pretty important that we played our best footy for him, and helped him celebrate this wonderful milestone."

Last week it was two Jimmy Bartel's late points that sealed the win over the Hawks by a point, and this week it was two Paul Chapman goals – his fifth and sixth of the match – which got the Cats home over the Crows by two points.

But Thompson said tight matches were good in the final weeks of the regular season.

"We didn't play our best footy – we obviously lost a bit of talent from down back, but I enjoyed the closeness of the games," he said.

"We've had three in about five weeks now, and it's a great experience.

"We did show a lot of character again to get up and win."