GEELONG coach Chris Scott has conceded luck won't always be on the Cats’ side after another nailbiting win temporarily launched them into top spot on the ladder.  

For the second game in the past four rounds, the Cats depended on the opposition missing a snap shot for goal within the final 10 seconds to win by less than a goal.

This week it was Hawthorn's running man Isaac Smith who missed his kick on the run to give Geelong victory by three points, following on from the miss by Fremantle's Michael Walters in round 14.

In between, the Cats have tied with Greater Western Sydney and thrashed the Brisbane Lions.

They have won four games by two points or less and had a draw to sit inside the top four with 46 points, and their closest losing margin in their four losses is 13 points.

A relieved Scott said it was hard watching the final minute unfold.

"Sometimes you feel like you don't really want to be in it in those minutes," Scott said.

"You have got to be a bit vulnerable and be prepared to accept that there might be that devastation in defeat to get the chance to feel the exhilaration of victory, but all that doesn't help much in the last 30 seconds."

However, he said his initial impression was that Geelong had performed well against strong opposition and was lucky enough to be in front when the siren went.

Five talking points: Geelong v Hawthorn

"We have had close games where I thought we just played poorly. I didn't think that was one of those today," Scott said.

"In such a close competition, we consider ourselves fortunate to be where we are and acknowledge that momentum, or lack [of it], probably will turn at some point, and when that happens we have just got to hang in there and keep pushing forward."

Pushing Patrick Dangerfield forward after he injured his foot was the most decisive move of the day, with the Cats champ kicking five goals.

Scott said the decision for him to keep playing after being injured was in the medical staff and Dangerfield's hands to a large extent, given there was no threat of further damage.

He said when he saw him attack the ball with ferocity when it was in his area he knew he could have an impact.

Occupying as much of his mind inside the coach's box was how to quell Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell who burst from the blocks with 19 touches in the first quarter.

Disappointed that the plan put in place once Scott Selwood withdrew late wasn't working, Scott recognised something had to change.

"What happened in the first quarter could not continue or we were going to lose the game," Scott said.

The 198cm Mark Blicavs was given the job of harassing the extracting Mitchell at stoppages and then trying to match him for influence around the ground.

After quarter-time Mitchell had 23 disposals and kicked one goal while Blicavs had 10 disposals himself.

"To get something you have to give something so we did," Scott said.

Scott complimented Hawthorn's Smith for once again putting himself in position to kick the winning goal, and said he felt for him given it was the second time in the team's past three encounters his inaccurate kick has decided the contest.

But Scott said both teams should be pleased with the continuation of a rivalry into another era.

"It is a credit to both clubs that there can be a period of transition and the contest is still so fierce," Scott said.

Geelong plays Adelaide next Friday night in a game that will have a huge bearing on its chances of finishing top two.