Harry Taylor says Geelong must improve defensively if it is to halt its form slide in Saturday night's Powercor Country Festival game against Essendon at the MCG.

The Cats conceded 71 inside-50s in last weekend's loss to Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, a number that Taylor and his teammates were none too happy about.

"In my time at Geelong that’s only happened three times in 212 games,” he told SEN's The Run Home on Wednesday evening.

“When you’ve got that many entries against its make is very, very difficult.”

Taylor says the backline was put under an unacceptable amount of pressure by the way the Suns were allowed to attack at will.

Tom Lonergan found it particularly tough trying to curtail Tom Lynch.

“As teammates we let Tom Lonergan down last weekend by not helping him enough,” Taylor said.

“It’s not a great place to be when you’re on a really good player and playing on the last line of defence with the ball coming in without any pressure.”

The Cats were last beaten by Essendon in round 15, 2011.