Despite recording the club's eighth straight win on Saturday night over fellow finals contender, Carlton, Geelong coach Chris Scott was keen to rein-in expectations.

“One thing I know from experience is you should never get ahead of yourself at round 18,” Scott said. 

“The great Leigh Matthews said, ‘the home and away season is about getting into a position to contend’, which is the challenge for us at the moment.”

He was, however, very pleased with the even contribution from his side in a game that had been hyped up around the clash of the league’s leading key forwards.

"I didn't think three players won us the game; our small forwards were really dangerous, key forwards were a threat...(Carlton's) really good players around the ball didn't take the game away from us.

"The players were able to adjust to the game and execute what was required at the right time because it was a pretty high-pressure game."

One factor Scott thinks will work in his favour is the number of players who have missed large chunks of football this season through injury and player management.

“There’s a big group of players that we think, once the season’s run and won, they won’t be thinking in September that they’re worn down through too much footy and too much training.”