GEELONG is a pale imitation of the team it was three weeks ago when the Cats were sitting second on the ladder after defeating Adelaide, according to coach Chris Scott.
The Cats won seven of their first eight matches and were installed as premiership favourites before shock losses to Collingwood and then Carlton on Sunday.
It wasn't yet obvious to Scott exactly what is behind the slump but said there were lots of little pieces of the puzzle missing.
"We, right at the moment, are a shadow of the team we were even three weeks ago," Scott said.
"The fundamentals were really poor."
A frustrated Scott said it was easy to see that the Cats had become too easy to score against.
In successive weeks, the Cats have conceded 16.8 (104) to their opposition after being the most miserly team in the competition through the first eight rounds.
The Cats have also blown many golden opportunities to score with Scott saying their composure entering the forward 50 against Carlton was disappointing.
"Two teams, again with respect to them, that haven't exactly been blowing teams out of the water with their offence have kicked over 100 points two weeks in a row and we feel that we could have made it harder for them," Scott said.
WATCH: Chris Scott's full media conference
Carlton kicked 77 points as a result of Geelong turnovers, with the Cats forward press being exposed at times in the third quarter when they were coming at the Blues.
The Blues also managed 60 inside 50s, the highest number Geelong has conceded this season.
"We're giving them a good look on the back of the way we're setting up when we have the ball and we're much, much poorer behind the ball than we have been," Scott said.
The fumbly Cats now face a stern test against Greater Western Sydney – the second highest scoring team in the competition – at Simonds Stadium to escape from their flat patch.
But Scott said he will not be throwing the baby out with the bathwater as the team searches for a solution. He indicated that he is more inclined to return to addressing basic principles with more work on the training track.
"Clearly we are in a flat spot at the moment and we have to find a way to arrest it," Scott said.
Scott said the team had to examine what had caused the sudden malaise, while acknowledging that the club predicted some ebbs and flows before the season began.
Tom Hawkins kicked one goal and set the tone early when he missed two set shots. Scott said the big forward needed to improve and could probably get on the move more however he said he needed to play the "Tom Hawkins" way.
He was disappointed with Steven Motlop's game with the star Cat giving away five free kicks accentuating his inability to get in the game.
Despite kicking two goals, Motlop was ineffective and Scott said he would seek some answers.
"He's played some exhilarating football this year and he has had two bad ones in a row," Scott said.
"We will work really closely with him to find out why, or if there any glaring reasons. I have got a few specific ideas in mind around how we can help him."
The Cats hope Lincoln McCarthy will return from injury and expects Daniel Menzel to play after he missed Sunday's loss with general soreness.
Rhys Stanley's foot injury will be monitored with Nathan Vardy a possible replacement to face the Giants.
