CATS recruit Rhys Stanley believes his new club can take inspiration from the way the Sydney Swans fought back after a slow start last year.

The Swans lost three of their first four games last season, then surged all the way to the Grand Final.

This time around it's Geelong that has started 0-2, with games against Gold Coast and North Melbourne at Simonds Stadium to come in the next fortnight.

"It's a long year. We're coming into round three, so definitely not panic stations," Stanley said prior to a school visit as part of the Cats' community engagement program.

"It's unfamiliar territory for the guys, but I think it's a really strong group of blokes.

"I think it's going to take more than this to rattle that group of players.

"So I think we've got to go back to the drawing board, have a look at the little things we can fix … and I think we'll bounce back."

Stanley played his first AFL game for the Cats in Sunday's 44-point loss to Fremantle.

The mobile big man kicked two impressive goals and has pulled up "really well" from what was a taxing match. 

"Obviously a disappointing result, but really looking forward … to having another crack at it," Stanley said.

"I think the boys are really trying to stay positive. We know that our best can be competitive. 

"There's some really basic things that we can fix quite easily. 

"I guess it's being clean with the footy, being clean around stoppages and that sort of thing."