GEELONG coach Chris Scott admitted his players lacked motivation after becoming aware of Fremantle's struggles against St Kilda.

Scott said the realisation the depleted Dockers couldn't challenge for second spot on the ladder became a factor in the Cats' scrappy one-point win against bold Brisbane.



"I've made a commitment to our players that I'll never lie to them. So we couldn't make the game, particularly in the second half, something it wasn't, given the situation in the St Kilda-Fremantle game." Scott said.



"It kept flashing up on the scoreboard, so all our players knew as well. The fact that Brisbane had a lot to play for and we didn't really have anything, other than carrying our form through to the next week, had an impact on the game."



Trailing by six points at half-time, the Cats rallied to jump to a 26-point lead early in the last quarter before falling over the line to stretch the Simonds Stadium winning streak.



"We just talked about the things we do when we play well. We weren't doing that well enough early in the game. It's amazing how things can change, you can build a bit of momentum if you actually convert. I thought we were well on top in that first quarter and just couldn't get the ball through the goals, so that had an impact," the Cats coach said.



"But there were some really tangible things with the way we like to play that we weren't getting done. Our game, like most other teams up near the top of the ladder, is in part based on taking the opposition's game away from them and we didn't do that well today.



"We're not too disappointed. We're certainly not ecstatic, we're not going to lie to you, it would have been fantastic to play brilliantly well, but we've had a pretty good couple of weeks prior to this. And, as you can see, some teams' preparations going into this round, there are some teams in the comp that have bigger fish to fry."



Key forward Tom Hawkins continued to struggle, this time with just seven touches, two marks, two tackles and one goal.



"We're going to work really hard to get him into the best shape possible. We're still really confident he can play better footy and have an impact for us. We just need to keep assessing things week by week. We've got a few players in that boat," Scott said.



"He's gradually getting better, but he has good and bad days. So, if he wakes up the day of the game and feels great, he's pretty much normal and can have his usual impact. Today, I don't think he was feeling great, but that's not too different to some other weeks this year.



"He's not any worse than he was a couple of months ago. The plan we put in place is the one we'll continue with and make a good judgment call when we have all the information."



Paul Chapman had 26 possessions in his first full game back and Taylor Hunt was a late replacement for Cameron Guthrie (calf).



"We have some decisions to make. We have been pretty clear in the last two weeks that we needed to see some things from some individuals and then we will take our time over the next few days and make a well-reasoned decision as to the team we take into a final," he said.



To the prospect of hosting Fremantle in a home qualifying final next Saturday, Scott said: "I said during the week I'm happy to play anywhere and all I can do is reiterate that. It would be exciting for the people of Geelong, I understand the excitement.



"Honestly, it would be great for Geelong. But, in terms of the actual game, I don't care too much. The record at Etihad (Stadium) and the MCG is pretty reasonable as well.



"Let's not beat around the bush, if you really pressed me, I would prefer to play here, then we would prefer to play at the MCG and then we would prefer to play at Etihad. But it's all pretty tight. AFL clubs have a responsibility to play where they're fixtured."