GEELONG coach Chris Scott is adamant this year's premiership race is wide open, saying reigning premier Richmond will need "a lot to go right" for it to clinch back-to-back flags.

Scott was speaking after his team had come within three points of breaking Richmond's record streak of wins at the MCG, which stretched to 19 on Friday night.



The Cats also had a chance to take the lead inside the final two minutes, but Gary Ablett pushed an open shot from 35m well wide.



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Before Friday night's game, the closest any team had got to the Tigers at the MCG this year had been 13 points (Hawthorn in round three).

But Scott saw enough things in his team's performance to be confident it could turn the tables on Richmond if it got the chance in the finals.

"We're disappointed but we're not discouraged with the performance. We had our chances to win," Scott said.

"I thought we had the better of the game for big parts of the game, so I don't think anyone from our footy club should be walking away thinking that we need to change things drastically to beat them

"They're the best side in it at the moment, but they need a lot to go right from them to win it – no question."



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Pressed about his take on Richmond's flag defence, Scott praised Damien Hardwick's team, but did not back away from his belief it was beatable.

"They've won 19 at the MCG in a row, they are good, but particularly watching the game last week I thought Collingwood were on top for big parts of the game," he said.

"When you talk about the juggernauts of the competition of years gone by you were just never in the game against them. I don't see that (with Richmond, but) I don't want to overstate it.

"If we're good enough over the next six or seven weeks and we get another chance to play them – and hopefully we do – we'll give ourselves a really good chance.

"I think there are other teams in exactly the same boat as well. Yeah, they're a good team, but they're beatable."



WATCH Chris Scott's full post-match media conference

The Cats fell to 11-8 after Friday night's loss and will slip out of the top eight if Sydney beats Collingwood at the SCG on Saturday night.

With North Melbourne, 10th, and Essendon, 11th, also poised to draw level with them on 11 wins if they defeat Brisbane and Hawthorn respectively, the Cats' clash against the seventh-placed Hawks next Saturday could determine their finals chances.

But a defiant Scott was in no mood post-match to talk up the significance of that clash, saying only that if the Cats lost they would try to win their remaining two home and away games against Fremantle and Gold Coast.

As for Ablett's shot on goal that would likely have won the game for Geelong, Scott said simply: "I thought he would kick it."