The Cats improved their record to 8-3 with a fortunate and somewhat controversial five-point win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, with Scott conceding a few things had gone right for Geelong when it mattered most. 

"You don't see the ball in the centre bounce bounce straight to the ruckman and then get a free kick and the advantage is paid to a guy who is a metre out too often," Scott said. 

Scott was referring to a controversial set of events late in the second quarter that began with an errant bounce and ended in a simple goal to forward Josh Walker. 

It might have been the first unusual decision, but it won't be the last talked about from the game.

There was a call for Tom Hawkins – who was Geelong's best player on the night – to play on when having a set shot at goal in the last quarter, a decision that confused Geelong enough for them to ask the umpires after the game whether the right call had been made for future reference.  

"Our understanding of the rule is that he has 30 seconds to start his run-up, and the umpire whistles him up at about 25 seconds, but even if he starts his run up at 29 and a half then he can take as long as he likes after that," Scott said.

"So it was strange that he seemed to be a long way in before the umpire called played on."

There were cases for free kicks to be paid to Hawkins and Carlton's Troy Menzel in the frantic final two minutes, while Geelong runner Nigel Lappin was right in the thick of the action at the final stoppage, where he made contact with Blues' midfielder Mitch Robinson. 

"The umpires let it go a little bit," Scott said. 

"If I was them I would have done the same thing. You don't want to make a mistake in that part of the ground at that stage of the game."

"I think slowly the whole footy industry is becoming a bit more mature in terms of understanding that mistakes happen all the time and we have to live with them. 

"Some go your way and some don't. I reckon on balance, (where) the ones where the umpires are in good position they make great decisions," Scott said. 

The coach admitted that he got caught up in the gripping contest, with Geelong skipper Joel Selwood kicking the match-winner with a minute to play. 

"I was emotional," Scott said. "[I was] trying to look calm but churning up inside." 

Scott identified Hawkins as the difference, with the Cats' spearhead taking over the lead of the Coleman Medal race by booting four goals, all of which came in the second quarter as he dominated direct opponent Sam Rowe. 

"We had some very good players who were a bit down tonight, so it was nice for Tom that he could basically drag us across the line," he said.