A PRAGMATIC Chris Scott admits his Geelong side would have been "lucky" to have overcome Hawthorn in the clubs' classic Easter Monday battle after being outplayed across the contest. 

In a brilliant and high-scoring affair, the Cats trailed by 24 points early in the last quarter but managed to draw level with the Hawks with only minutes remaining in the clash.

However, Hawthorn nudged ahead through a Jarryd Roughead point with a minute left to play, which proved to be the match-winning score in an entertaining battle at the MCG.

After last week beating Melbourne after Demons ruckman Max Gawn's missed set shot late in the game, the Cats coach acknowledged they couldn't count themselves unfortunate to not have gotten over the line against the Hawks.

"We would have been lucky to win I think. It's two weeks in a row, [and] we could easily be sitting here 0-2 and scratching our heads a bit. I don't think there's much point comparing the two weeks, but if we focus on this game we thought we were comprehensively outplayed for big parts of the game and were able to turn it around after half-time," he said post-match.

"Even then it ebbed and flowed, it always does against the Hawks. But when you're so far behind on the entries then it always makes it hard, especially given we're a bit undermanned in defence and their forwards are so good.

"You just can't give up 62 inside-50s with their potency in the forward half. It wouldn't be so bad if we had 60 ourselves. If we had have stolen the game – even a draw – it would have just that, a steal."

Scott praised his side's ability to "hang in" the game despite not having the ascendancy, and was also pleased with the way star trio Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield combined for the first time in the midfield.

The trio collected 95 disposals and four goals between them and were crucial in the Cats' last-quarter comeback.

"I thought they were pretty good," he said.

"Way too much, in my view, is made of the individuals. The smartest way to look at the way the collective is going against the other. Those three guys as individuals played pretty well, but we were minus 21 inside 50s at three-quarter time, so all's not well. We've got some things to think about there."

The Cats were without fellow gun midfielder Mitch Duncan, who was a late out due to hamstring tightness, and Scott was unsure if he will be available for next week's trip to Perth to take on the Eagles.

In his absence, second-gamer Tim Kelly continued his exciting start to his AFL career with 27 disposals and a goal and a huge influence on the game with his class and pace.

The Hawks are one of only four unbeaten teams after two rounds, and Scott said they have started the year in top form.

"Their system was really good today, they're defending really well. They're back to their best in our view in the way they're playing. Their personnel is a bit different but they made it hard for us to move the ball. We didn't challenge them very much," he said.