DESPITE nearly blowing a top-four chance Geelong coach Chris Scott hopes the against-the-odds comeback against Richmond will be referred to as a turning point for the Cats at season's end.
He said winning such a vital game after playing terrible football for three quarters could steel the team as it enters the business end of the season.
Although under no illusions the Cats were lucky to escape with the win, he said there were enough positives to take a glass half-full approach.
"In a game where we were really playing poorly and things weren't going our way [it was great] that our guys were able to hang together," Scott said.
"It can be moments like that that can turn fortunes your way."
The enormity of the comeback was not lost on 200-gamer Harry Taylor, who agreed post-game the win was something of a football miracle.
"Miracle is a good way to put it. 35 points down maybe at three-quarter time and we didn't really have a great deal of momentum," Taylor said.
Five talking points: Richmond v Geelong
Only 17 teams have ever come back from further behind at three-quarter time to win.
"I thought we were in trouble. It wasn't the stirring motivational speech that turned things around that is for sure," Scott said.
However positional changes did seem to make some difference, with Scott conceding that he had to dig deep into his bag of ideas to try to give the game a different look.
"[We're] reticent to throw things at the team that we haven't practised although we did a few things today that we haven't necessarily talked about,” Scott said.
WATCH: Chris Scott's full post-match media conference
"Players showed willingness to adapt to the way we were playing in a pretty high pressure situation".
Moving defenders Lachie Henderson and Taylor forward forced Richmond's defenders to engage their opponents with Tom Hawkins taking three marks in the desperate last quarter as they separated the defence.
Scott said players such as Rhys Stanley lifted while individual efforts from Josh Caddy – who marked a high kick late in the game – and Scott Selwood – who won a crucial one-on-one battle with Jack Riewoldt in the last quarter would have endeared themselves to their teammates with their heroics.
Sam Menegola also kicked a brilliant snap goal late in the game.
The win has put the Cats a game clear inside the top four with matches against the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne remaining.
Scott said Daniel Menzel and Nakia Cockatoo were likely to return with Andrew Mackie almost certain to play too after being managed and Jed Bews very unlucky to not be picked against Richmond.
Despite lapses in form the Cats have beaten every top eight team except for the Sydney Swans with Scott claiming that gave them confidence ahead of the finals.
"The challenge for us is to play our best when it really counts," Scott said.
