Geelong’s general manager of football operations Neil Balme said the Cats are looking at the big picture after Saturday’s loss to Richmond.

“It’s just part of getting ready for the season, and we’re having a hard pre-season program,” Balme said.

“The games are just a part of that. We don’t pick teams to win these games, although you want to win. We pick our team based on the work the various players need that week. The young kids that have had an opportunity haven’t played much but I thought Motlop, Christensen and Stringer all did some nice things.”

Balme was impressed by Richmond’s intensity and attack on the ball.

“Richmond was very sharp and we were disappointed with how we played early,” he said.

“They squeezed us and forced us into errors.”

Geelong suffered two injuries, with Tom Allwright appearing to have a posterior cruciate ligament injury that could sideline him for a month, and Jeremy Laidler who rolled his ankle late in the game.