AFL premiership sides have many good qualities, but self-belief and the will to win are arguably the most important.
As Geelong reminded everyone in Friday night's dramatic six-point victory over Carlton, they have it in spades.
No matter the status of the game or how patchy and underwhelming the Cats have been, somehow they've made a habit of winning the close ones.
At Etihad Stadium it was two goals in the final five minutes, despite the Blues having previously controlled the quarter.
"I don't feel as if we're ever out of games," said Josh Caddy, who has played in 12 wins and one loss this season.
"There's been games where we've been 20 or 30 points down in the last quarter and you still have that belief you're a chance of winning.
"You don't always do it, but we have that never-say-die attitude.
"It's that, coupled with opposition sides knowing that we're just going to keep coming and almost expecting that we're going to win.
"I think we mentally have it over a few sides late in games."
Former Gold Coast midfielder Caddy played arguably his best game in the blue and white hoops, booting a late clutch goal and tallying 28 possessions.
Cats coach Chris Scott praised the 21-year-old for lifting in the absence of injured stars Jimmy Bartel and Steve Johnson.
"Caddy led us as much as anyone in the second half, particularly with his work around the ball," Scott said of his side's seventh straight win.
"When the heat was on late in the game and Chris Judd and Bryce Gibbs were in the centre bounce, we were happy enough to have Caddy, (Allen) Christensen and (Cameron) Guthrie in there.
"It's almost more pleasing to see the 21-year-olds do it, than the 31-year-olds."
Scott was "hopeful" Bartel, Johnson and Jordan Murdoch would return for next Saturday's blockbuster against Hawthorn.
"They were all conservative calls and if we're in a similar position next week we'll make conservative calls again," he added.
Scott suggested his team needed "to play better every single week" to challenge Sydney and Hawthorn in the finals.
"I can't mount an argument against the people who say that they're clearly the two teams to beat," Scott said.
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