Geelong full-forward Kent Kingsley believes better execution of the game plan will hold the Cats in good stead after their opening round loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Kingsley, who led Geelong with 57 goals last season and began his 2003 campaign with three against the Dogs, said the Cats will not deviate from the game plan that took them to the brink of the finals last year.

“I think we are very confident with our game plan and it has worked in the past,” Kingsley told afl.com.au.

“I don’t think there will be any drastic changes. We will go back to what we know works and plug away at that during the week and hopefully come up fresh and ready to go against the Kangaroos next week.”

Geelong fought hard to get back into the contest after trailing the Bulldogs by 26 points at quarter time, but they could not bridge the gap. Kingsley felt that the Cats fought hard but didn’t have the luck they needed to make up the deficit.

“We thought if we stuck at it and if a couple of things went our way we could have got back in it,” he said.

“But it wasn’t to be and to their credit they played very well and we were a little bit off today.”

With 21 home-and-away games left, Kingsley was looking at the long road ahead rather than lamenting the one that got away.

“No panic buttons though,” Kingsley said.

“I know it’s an old cliché, but it is the start of a long season and we have to get back on track and prepare for the Kangaroos and get back on track.”