The numbers don’t lie – the 2018 Cats thrive in defensive, low-scoring slugfests.

In Geelong’s eight wins this season, its opponents have managed just 52.1 points per game. In 2017 that mark was some 20 points higher at 72.9.  

When the Cats have had success this season, they have smothered their opponents with a defensive fervour that dries up scoring dramatically.

In seven of Geelong’s eight wins this year their opponents have scored 59 points or less, with the one exception to the rule coming in a near-loss to the Demons.

Despite the late drama in the Cats’ defeat against the Bulldogs on Friday night, it was less a game lost on the siren and more one conceded in the battle to rule the style of play.

In an end to end shootout that saw both teams reach triple figures and 31 goals piled on, Geelong was trying to beat another team at their own game.

Cam Guthrie was quick to point out the defensive failure post-match and added that the letdown was something for the whole team to address.

“We probably played a little bit of an up and back style tonight,” Guthrie said.

“That probably comes with the venue a little bit with perfect conditions under the roof, but we probably would like to slow the game down a little bit more. The Dogs wanted to play that way tonight and we probably let them do that a little too much.

“We don’t just rely on our defenders to defend it’s a whole team effort and a few things broke down tonight and hopefully we can improve coming up next week against the Swans.”

Chris Scott was singing from the same song sheet in his post-match presser.

“It’s quite rare for us to give up as big of a score as we did,” he said.

“To give up as many goal as we did from close range too (when) it wasn’t generally a night where they were cutting their way through us (was unusual).

“They just kicked too many goals from pressure situations from 0-30 (metres from goal), which again is a little bit rare for us but still a concern.”

The Cats won’t have long to turn Friday’s stylistic woes around, with the tight confines of the SCG looming and offering a similar issue to those at Etihad stadium.

With an encounter with the Swans set for Thursday night, Geelong will be working to ensure Friday was more of an aberration than the start of a new trend.