In his 13 seasons as head coach of Geelong, Chris Scott has proven that there are no mountains his Cats can not climb.
Boasting an incredible 72%-win rate since 2011 to go with his two premierships, Scott has only missed the top eight once in his coaching tenure.
The Cats enter the back half of the 2023 season sitting in ninth position with six wins from their 12 games, perfectly poised to strike across the final 11-weeks of the season.
Scott says that mindset remains similar for his side, looking to take the remainder of the season one week at a time.
“I don't think our mindset is much different to what it was this time last year, we just want to work on playing our best footy,” Scott said.
“I get that after every week, there is an analysis to update the season and what it all means, but we're just not in that world.
"We're really confident that our best footy is going to be good enough, that's the first part. I get we're probably going to face those questions for the rest of the season.
"Unless we win ten in a row, which is possible.”
Geelong found themselves in a similar position last season, before going on an enormous winning streak that culminated in them winning the 2022 premiership.
The remaining 11-games will see the Cats face all teams currently in the top eight, but they will also play six games at GMHBA Stadium giving Scott and his side the chance to build momentum heading towards September.
Scott said that the season outlook doesn’t change whether the team is on top of the ladder or fighting for a spot in the top eight.
“Hypothetically, if you're on top of the ladder you start thinking about how you haven't got too much room because you might slip to third and give up a home final,” Scott said.
“If you're third or fourth, you might think we haven't got that much room or we might slip out of the top four.
"It's very rare and we've been there before, that teams up the top start thinking we've got the luxury that we can sit on our heels a bit and wait until the real stuff starts.”
Geelong’s finals push begins on tonight against a red-hot Port Adelaide team, with the Cats set to welcome back a host of their top players for the blockbuster clash.
Scott said he and the team are looking forward to the challenge, against the most in-form team in the competition.
“Both teams have scored really heavily throughout the season, ranked really high in points per game so you would expect based on that recent history, that both teams will get their chances in attack,” Scott said.
"That's been the pattern of their game, they can score really heavily and seem to back themselves that if they get scored against a little bit, they'll be too good on the other side of the ball.
"It fits with their young midfield group; they are attacking and exciting players who we really respect.
"But we are pleased to get our A-Grade contingent back, we think we are well placed to more than break even with those guys throughout the midfield."
