GEELONG will field a full-strength side for its NAB Cup grand final against Collingwood next Friday night, having mastered the art of rotating players over the past three weeks.

The Cats shifted key players in and out of the side over the duration of the pre-season competition, with midfielders Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood, ruckman Mark Blake and defenders Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie the latest to be rested.

Coach Mark Thompson said an A-list line-up would be selected for the decider, with Cameron Mooney also expected to play and fellow forwards Steve Johnson and Tom Hawkins set for more game time.

"We've rotated four or five guys every game and over three weeks that's 15 guys, so probably our best 15 players have had a spell in the three weeks up to now," he said after the Cats' 17-point semi-final win over Carlton.

"We'll play our best side next week.

"Whether we were in the NAB Cup grand final or not, we would probably put out a side that's going to be very similar to round one, apart from the extra players on the bench.

"We're going to expect a lot and demand a lot from our players and hopefully they will [expect that] from each other, to play the best footy they can one week out from the start of the season."

Thompson said he was disappointed with the way his side played against the undermanned Blues, but admitted it was difficult to get enthusiastic about facing such a depleted outfit.

"It was one of our worst games in a while," he said.

"It's probably hard to get motivated for it really, from a players' point of view and even from a coaching point of view.

"It was a pretty tough week planning for the game.

"We would have liked to have played with (Chris) Judd and (Brendan) Fevola and have played against a stronger team.

"I respect Carlton's decision. I'm not being critical of Carlton at all."

Thompson lamented the Cats' poor disposal and said getting beaten to the contested ball in the third quarter was "very un-Geelong like".

He added that the Cats focused on cutting back handballs after racking up 140 to 54 in the first half.

"That's just part of pre-season and trying to iron out a few wrinkles," he said. "We're not playing perfect footy and footy in general is not the best football you've ever seen.

"We'll get it right."

Thompson also threw his support behind teams trialling defensive zones, believing it will improve football overall.

"I think it's good for football that it's being challenged and we have to come up with different ways to play," he said.

"It's a great thing for the game."

Dream Team watch - Corey Enright is rated a $386,200 defender in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.