BEING the best team in the competition is not out of reach for Geelong according to its coach Chris Scott.

But he said the Cats are not there yet despite finishing round four on top of the ladder.

The undefeated Geelong roared from third place to top spot after dismantling Hawthorn by 86 points kicking 11 straight goals in the final quarter but Scott was far from getting carried away.

"We need to keep improving our game and not worry too much about where we sit in the competition because I think that is hard to get a guide on," Scott said.

"I'm pretty sure we're not the best team but we could be, at some stage."

The Cats showed in the first half why Scott had not been enamoured with their form in the first three rounds.

They were as lacklustre as their opposition, missing set shots at goal and kicking the ball out of bounds on the full to finish with 5.12 for the half and a lead of just 24 points.

However the Cats began to purr soon after moving Harry Taylor back into defence where he looked more at home, kicking 15 goals to five in the second half.

They did so with Patrick Dangerfield restricted to light duties after copping a heavy knock to the ribs early in the game when Jarryd Roughead cannoned into him at a marking contest.

Dangerfield played on and Scott said he would be fine to play against St Kilda. The champion still managed 27 disposals and six centre clearances but he was clearly sore.

Mitch Duncan continued his good start to the season with his performance shining as Dangerfield's dimmed ever so slightly.

Duncan had 32 possessions and kicked two goals to be best on ground.

An uninterrupted pre-season has helped Duncan but Scott said the coaches had also given him a role that played to his strengths more than the one he filled in 2016.

"He is a really flexible player and he does give us the option of helping out in different parts of the ground but playing as an inside mid he seems to be flourishing," Scott said.

"Part of it is him stepping up and part of it is us helping a little bit more than we have in the past."

Geelong will be watching the match review panel closely with James Parsons and Sam Menegola reported after tangling with Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge in separate incidents.

Scott was not prepared to comment on either incident but did confirm small forward Lincoln McCarthy would return for the vital clash against St Kilda next Sunday.

Scott revealed McCarthy was managed in round four as Geelong takes a cautious approach with the tough 23-year-old and indicated he would not be the last Cat to be given a break if required.

"We want to be smart with them," Scott said.

"Lincoln [McCarthy] has been playing well. He is well and truly in our best team but we decided to take a longer term view with Lincoln."

Geelong is yet to play a team above eighth placed Melbourne but has done everything right in the first four weeks.

"As a coaching group we're struggling to work out exactly where we sit in the competition so we stop trying to work it out. We just improve our game and see where that takes us," Scott said.