Geelong coach Natalie Wood has lauded the spirit of her players in Sunday's seven point loss to the Western Bulldogs at VU Whitten Oval on Sunday.

Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser post-match, Wood couldn't question the endevour of the group which included four first-gamers.

“If we took the scoreboard away, I couldn’t be more ­impressed,” Wood said.

“Everything that we asked right from the start — from the contest to the ball movement as a unit — was the best we’ve seen in the first four weeks.

“We had four debutantes who really took it up to a team that’s undefeated, there’s a lot of positives to take out of that.

“Denby Taylor played her second game back with us and she was outstanding. In the first quarter she set the scene off half-back.

Wood was also full of praise for her on-ball brigade who have been building each round.

“Our midfield, they’ve had four weeks together now and they’ve just kept improving."

“So from a development point of view, I can’t fault the trajectory they’re on. It’s just disappointing that for all the hard work they’re doing they we’re able to get the reward.”

“We moved the ball the best we have done the whole year, especially off our half-back line. Our movement through the middle and the front half was exceptional,” Wood said.

In round five to Cats will travel to Swinburne Centre to play Richmond on Saturday at 2.30pm.