GEELONG'S midfield is starting to catch up to the best teams but is not there yet, according to Cats coach Chris Scott.
After watching his star midfielders Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield dominate against the Brisbane Lions, Scott said the team was not reliant on the duo and was capable of performing even if either was absent.
WATCH: Chris Scott's full post-match press conference
"I know there's been a little bit of commentary with a small sample size around what Pat [Dangerfield] means to our midfield group, but our players in there have been developing over a long period of time," Scott said.
"I still think they've got some improvement left in them, but we're not a terrible midfield group if we don't have Pat [Dangerfield] in there, and I think we're still pretty good if we don't have Joel [Selwood] in there as well."
The pair gathered 36 contested possessions and 19 clearances to be the best players on the ground but Mitch Duncan, Steven Motlop, Mark Blicavs and Josh Caddy were also handy on the night. The Cats' ruck division of Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley also made life difficult for Stefan Martin.
GAMEBREAKER: Dangerfield's impressive Cattery debut
Geelong won the clearances 40-28 against a Brisbane Lions team missing Tom Rockliff, Dayne Beams and Daniel Rich, and had 69 inside 50s to the Lions' 34.
Scott was not willing to enter the discussion as to whether Joel Selwood or Patrick Dangerfield was the Cats' best player on the night but he did defend Steve Motlop's early-season form.
"We're not jumping at shadows with Steve," Scott said.
"He had a bit of a slow start to last year as well and he finished top-three in our best and fairest."
WATCH: Selwood, Robinson go head-to-head
The 24-year-old improved significantly on his performances in the first two rounds, winning 28 disposals and kicking two goals against the Lions, the first time he has kicked multiple goals in his past eight games.
"I think what we weren't seeing from him was his quality when he's involved in the offensive movement," Scott said.
"And he's still a little bit off, but he sets high standards for himself."
Mitch Duncan showed he had suffered no ill effects from the massive hit he copped from Shane Mumford a week earlier while Caddy played less game time but was impressive.
Scott also praised the debut of mature-aged rookie Tom Ruggles, who won the Cats VFL best and fairest last season.
"For us he's kind of like the overnight success who was three years in the making," Scott said.
The Cats have a six-day break before they face Essendon at the MCG on Saturday.
