Endless search for perfection Scott optimistic scary Cats can get even better

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After comprehensively beating a Fremantle side full of confidence on their home patch and sitting atop the AFL ladder, Geelong coach Chris Scott is optimistic there is yet more improvement in his side as finals approach.

The Cats dismantled the Dockers in the wet in a classy and tough display at Optus Stadium on Thursday night then boarded a plane on Friday morning to return to locked-down Victoria, with their next game a comfortable eight days away.

Scott ominously said his side had room to be even better in the run home, outside of the lift the returns of Gary Rohan and Jeremy Cameron will provide when fit.

“Getting closer [to our best],” Scott said. “I don’t think we have been as good as we would have liked to have been over the last month. We have played some really good opposition … we had a really off night against Brisbane.

“Our plan is always to get better as the year goes on, and on that endless search for perfection.

Cats coach Chris Scott addresses his players. Credit:Getty Images

“We think with some players to come back and some players who have been managed [and recovered from injury] … we have got a lot of guys that have not had the arduous workload of a full season.

“So we are optimistic that we can hit our stride in pretty good form going into finals.”

The Cats were greeted by WA Police upon arrival in the state on Wednesday, with the government essentially closing the border to Victorians while they were in the air, because of the COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

Geelong had to isolate until they all received negative tests and then were only allowed out to train briefly and play the game.

It did not affect the Cats, who put the inconvenience aside to bully a lacklustre Fremantle.

“No doubt they set themselves for a crack on their home deck against a team that’s in the top eight. We have a lot of respect [for Fremantle],” Scott said.

“It was important for us to start well and get the game the way we wanted to play.”

The coach said that there were worries for how the impact the forward line would have given Rohan joined Cameron on the sidelines at selection on Wednesday, with his corkie still not right.

“It was a bit of a concern for us going in because Rohan and Cameron are important cogs in our forward line, Henderson in the back-half as well,” he said.

With wins against the Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Carlton and Fremantle of late, the Cats run home isn’t too bad.

They play the flailing Richmond next round, then bottom-of-the-ladder North Melbourne and GWS, followed by St Kilda and Melbourne to finish.

“I don’t think it is an insurmountable impediment finishing third, fourth [or] fifth. Particularly with the way the finals is structured [with a pre-finals bye].”

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Anthony is a sports reporter at The Age.

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