GEELONG champion Patrick Dangerfield says the Cats failed to perform when Friday night's preliminary final against Adelaide was at its hottest.

Last year's Brownlow medallist is still coming to terms with the disappointment of Geelong bowing out in consecutive preliminary finals – and again after a slow start.

"I think we put ourselves in a really good position throughout the year, but unfortunately under the heat we just weren't able to execute," Dangerfield told AFL.com.au.

"(We gave up) 18 goals from turnovers on Friday night.

Cats must go back to the start, says Scott

"It might have been 11 or 12 (turnovers) between 40 and 60, which is obviously an opportunity for us to score ourselves, so when the opposition takes it down the other end of the ground and scores, it's a 12-point turnaround for each goal.

"So that will be a focus. The group's disappointed; the group's owned it. We've won together and lost together this year – it's disappointing, but there's also life and sport."

Dangerfield is still to decide whether he will watch Saturday's Grand Final between Richmond and his former side, the Crows.

"I went to last year's Grand Final and that was obviously really difficult to watch, when you're so close in a prelim," he said.

"But I've got some great mates who are playing in the game, who I hope go really well. It's a mixed emotion, because I'd love to be there, but there are some very deserved people there as well.

"I shot (some ex-Adelaide teammates) a text earlier in the week, but they've got a game to focus on, so I'll let them focus on that, because there are some pretty special stories.

"It would be fitting for them … but Richmond is riding this wave of emotion at the moment and will be hard to stop."

Dangerfield expects to present Tigers superstar Dustin Martin with the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.