Geelong will be out to avoid idle hours over the next fortnight as they prepare to one step better this AFL finals series.

The Cats insisted the break between now and their preliminary final would be no time for napping, as they planned to train hard and review the lapses in Saturday’s win over the Western Bulldogs in the qualifying final at the MCG.

Geelong had the week off during the 2007 and 2008 finals, but last year’s respite counted for little as they were beaten by Hawthorn in the grand final.

Captain Tom Harley said there was no perfect formula to handle a longer break at the pointy end of the season, but promised there would be no easing off – even for those who have just overcome injury.

“You train, that’s what you do,” he said after the 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82) win over the Bulldogs.

“We have some experience in it now, but who’s to say we’ve got it right?
“We won’t be taking the foot off the gas, but it’s still pretty individual.

“Some guys might need to really recover and some like myself and Otto (Brad Ottens) probably need some more work.”
The break will boost the chances of forwards Steve Johnson and Max Rooke returning to the side.

Johnson was troubled by hip soreness over the second half of the season, but recently underwent surgery and is recovering well.

Rooke was a late withdrawal on Saturday because of quad tightness.

If Johnson and Rooke return they will give Geelong a full-strength side, which must have seemed a rmote chance when injuries began piling up after the round-14 defeat to St Kilda.

Harley said the Cats’ performance on Saturday was a solid launchpad.

“It was a good win, but there’s still plenty of upside to us,” he said.

“It was good we started really well, we were nice and relaxed and flicked the ball around.

“We’ve got some areas to work on, probably in the second quarter and fourth quarter, but it was really important to start well, which we did.”
Fellow defender Andrew Mackie was also pleased with the Cats’ start, when tackles, chase-downs and pressure forced the Bulldogs into error.

“From down back we get to see a lot of the game and those little boys up forward were great,” said Mackie, who ran forward for an early goal himself.

“Not just the little boys, but right across the whole field.

“Even down our end we were able to lock it down a bit and we made a couple of big tackles.”
The defensive work was highlighted by fullback Matthew Scarlett, who was judged by his teammates as Geelong’s best player, and presented with a framed print which paid tribute to the Anzacs’ sacrifices in war.

© AAP 2012

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