GEELONG coach Chris Scott concedes has side has fallen back into the pack after a golden run, but would be staggered if anyone at the Cats wasn't excited about the prospect of the task ahead.
 
The Cats were consigned to missing the finals for the first time since 2006 after Friday night's meek 48-point loss to Collingwood, which left no-one in any doubt where the Cats sit after a season that never gained momentum.
 
"We have fallen off the pace and we are clearly an average side at the moment," Scott said.
 
With dreams of a September appearance over, the Cats face major decisions on several out-of-contract players on their list.
 
No decisions have been reached on the futures of champion veterans Steve Johnson, Mathew Stokes, James Kelly, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie and Corey Enright with just one game of the season remaining.
 
"We'll announce it when we think the right time is," Scott said.
 
Scott said every player was clear about the club's view on whether they will or won't have a spot on the list, or whether the decision was still to be determined.
 
"It's going to be brutal. I feel so bad because I know it is difficult for them," Scott said.
 
"I've heard people say that you should not get too emotionally attached, and on some levels the head coach has to be a little bit removed, but I don't mind saying publicly I love them. Some of them I played against, and I can't think of people in the game that I respect more."
 
The Cats will sign Mark Blicavs soon, are confident of retaining Steve Motlop and hopeful of re-signing Jake Kolodjashnij as they set a platform for next season.
 
They are also presumed to be in the race for Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield, Carlton's Lachie Henderson and West Coast's Scott Selwood.
 
Scott said although the Cats were confident in their future prospects, they would be no more confident than 14 or 15 other clubs given how tight the competition was becoming.
 
The coach did indulge himself for a moment in pondering how good Geelong may have been if Daniel Menzel and Nathan Vardy had played more than the 15 combined games they have managed since 2011.
 
"I'm sure our supporters would be thinking that same way as us … you have to fight the urge, but you can't resist the feeling what could have been if those two had remain uninjured," Scott said.
 
Menzel's remarkable comeback from four knee reconstructions was the shining light on a night that revealed where the once-mighty Cats now sit in the pecking order.