GEELONG will persist with playing Harry Taylor forward in round one, according to Cats assistant coach Matthew Scarlett, despite the former defender battling to have an impact for the third week in a row.

Scarlett said ordinary ball use in the first half made life difficult for both Taylor and Tom Hawkins but it would take time before the forward setup would start to find its rhythm.

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"Him [Taylor] and 'Hawk' [Hawkins] have not played side by side together for a long time so we are just working on that chemistry and if we get the ball in nice and quick, they are going to be a real handful," Scarlett said.

Scarlett said the Cats had shown their best and worst during the JLT Community Series and there were plenty of areas that needed addressing before they took on Fremantle in round one.

Although the straight-talking former Cat admitted the eventual win was pleasing, he did not mince words when asked his view of the disappointing first half.

"Essendon scored too easily, [we] weren't great around the footy, our defenders weren't great and our forwards couldn't lock the ball in our forward half," Scarlett said.

The Cats threw Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield into the middle and began to create opportunities for the forwards to capitalise on, with Geelong piling on nine goals in the third quarter.

"I was really pleased with the second half and the response from the group which will give those boys a bit of confidence heading into a tough encounter in a couple of weeks," Scarlett said.

Tom Hawkins is unstoppable at the moment! How about this little shimmy from the big man #JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/Yk6Gu0DRDe — AFL (@AFL) March 12, 2017

Steve Motlop did not play due to illness while Cam Guthrie failed to get up in time to play after suffering a calf injury in the Cats' first JLT Community Series game.

Scarlett said Motlop would be available for round one and he was hopeful Guthrie would train well enough to be considered.

Scott Selwood is also doubtful as he battles a toe injury that has sidelined him for the JLT Community Series.

Scarlett said the Cats rested Mitch Duncan in the last quarter and they took no risks with Tom Stewart when he came from the ground with hamstring tightness.