THE CATS might be licking their wounds after another post-bye defeat on Saturday night, but they don't have to look far for solace.

Chris Scott's side sits a game and significant percentage clear on top of the ladder, is No.1 in points for and against, applies more pressure than anyone, and no team turns an inside 50 into a goal more often. 

Geelong also happens to be the AFL's king of momentum.

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The Cats are the only club yet to concede five goals in a row this season, and have given up the fewest three-goal streaks (10).

Port Adelaide was responsible for one of those blemishes to start the clubs' weekend contest and eventually won by 11 points.

The only other opposition side to beat Geelong – Greater Western Sydney – also enjoyed a stretch of three unanswered goals and had the final six scoring shots that day for just one major.

The same measure illuminates why Melbourne has struggled so badly in season 2019.

On the flipside, the Cats boast the most positive runs of five goals (10) and three (28), to present a water-tight case about their status in this discussion. 

Geelong's 11 consecutive majors from early in the second quarter to 11 minutes into the third term against Richmond in round 12 is also the AFL's longest. 

The Cats were even involved in one of the wildest momentum-changing clashes of the year with North Melbourne in round eight.

Geelong had three streaks of at least three goals, but the Roos slotted four on the trot at one stage – the most Scott's men have conceded – and had a separate run of three as well.

As Hawthorn's four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has said many times about the AFL competition: "It's a game of momentum." 

Addressing why the phenomenon happens and how to arrest it when it's against you remains one of sport's great mysteries.