GEELONG defender Harry Taylor says it was disappointing to let Greater Western Sydney back into Saturday night's match after working hard to build what should have been a match-winning lead.

The Cats came away from Spotless Stadium in Sydney with a crucial four premiership points that lifted the club to second on the ladder, but only after withstanding a late surge from a determined Giants outfit.

Taylor said the team was able to hang on by winning the footy at a number of big moments.

"We had a few crucial contests where we seemed to either mark the ball or win the ball," he said after the match.

"That was pleasing, but the fact that we had to do that was the disappointing part."

One of those moments came at the 18-minute mark in the last term when skipper Joel Selwood marked and kicked truly from 50m in a typical captain's goal to end a run of three straight Giants majors.

Taylor said Selwood has been called upon to do that sort of thing too often in 2014.

"He stands up often and did it again for us," Taylor said.

"We have had to rely on that a bit this year, which is disappointing.

"We would like to be able to control the game a bit more than we have, not just this one but many others this season."

Cats coach Chris Scott said Taylor, who played on Giants forward Jonathon Patton for much of the game and finished with 30 touches and nine marks, had a good match.

"He was effective for us," Scott said.

"We have got a lot of respect for their big forwards and if any of our guys didn't they do after tonight."

Scott said there was an emerging cohort of players at the club who would stand up at crucial moments in tight matches beyond experienced leaders such as Selwood, Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly.

"I don't believe we are carrying many players at all that are unsure as to what they should do when the heat is on," Scott said.

"The challenge for us is to play that way earlier in the game so we don't put ourselves in that situation."