GEELONG is hoping the squad mentality it has adopted in the early parts of the 2016 season will pay off when it comes towards the business end of the season.

The Cats made another four changes to their side this week, including the late withdrawals of Andrew Mackie (soreness) and Rhys Stanley (illness), who were replaced by Darcy Lang and Nathan Vardy respectively.

It made little difference, though, as Chris Scott's men continued on their winning way with a 120-point thumping of a depleted Gold Coast side at Simonds Stadium.

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"We're a long way from being settled on what our best 22 is, in fact we don't really have a best 22," Scott said in his post-match press conference. 

"We pick the best team we can each week and try to work on getting a big group of players who can contribute throughout the year.

"(Rhys) Stanley's been good for us, (Cory) Gregson's been good for us. We'll have a couple of players we'd like to get into our team next week."

WATCH: Chris Scott's full post-match press conference

The Cats have used 27 players (interestingly the equal third-fewest in the competition) throughout the first six rounds of the season, while they have routinely 'managed' sore or developing players.

Scott and his coaching panel have also shown faith in young players at the selection table, most notably Shane Kersten and Jake Kolodjashnij.

Kersten repaid his coach for sticking by him with a career-high four goals against the Suns on Saturday night.

"We think he's (Kersten) been pretty good this year," Scott said.

"We weren't exactly sure how we were going to work (Daniel) Menzel and Kersten and (Nathan) Vardy and Stanley, those guys, (Lincoln) McCarthy hasn't played much footy, all into our forward line at the same time.

"We think Kersten's been pretty good for us - he missed a game there (against Essendon with a tight calf) and came straight back in (against Port Adelaide) – that's an indication of how well we think he's playing his role."

Five talking points: Geelong v Gold Coast

Geelong booted 25 goals to Gold Coast's seven, to clock up its highest score since round 20, 2011, while the Cats had 12 individual goal kickers throughout the night.

"We've said a few times we're not really settled on our forward group, it's probably the area where we're the most unstable if you like," Scott said.

Emerging youngster Nakia Cockatoo had just 12 disposals for the game, but his impact on the contest was far greater than that.

Cockatoo's tackling pressure and ability to win balls in dispute has become a feature of his early career and his effort is pleasing the coach to no end.

"He is a really good contested player, he is going to get better no doubt," Scott said.

"He's got a lot to learn about the game, you can coach your work in the contest but some guys are easier to coach than others.

"He is really easy (to coach), he's really tough and powerful and he's going to do some really special things with the footy but going do some even more special things defensively, I suspect."

McCarthy copped a couple of heavy knocks throughout the game, including in the first quarter when he ran headfirst into teammate Cameron Guthrie, and sat out the last part of the match.

However Scott allayed fears the oft-injured youngster had suffered anything serious.

"We're really careful with Lincoln, probably too conservative with his management at times," Scott said.

"He's OK, we just chose not to put him back on late in the game."