It takes a lot to please Geelong coach Chris Scott, and a 6-1 start to the AFL season won't quite do it.
The Cats resisted a spirited Richmond comeback to hold on for a five-point win at a sodden MCG on Sunday, shooting out to a 35-point lead in the second quarter before prevailing 11.15 (81) to 12.4 (76).
They are level on points with Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, the other two sides to have impressed the most this year, and enjoy a bye in round eight.
"I'd prefer that we were seven-zip to be honest, I think we should win every game we play if we play at our best," Scott said, still ruing a loss to the Power in round six.
"But I've got high standards.
"If you take a step back ... it looks pretty good.
"We're pretty content we're in a good spot, but well aware we need to improve."
Key defender Harry Taylor, who clutched an impressive five contested marks against the Tigers despite the heavy rain and wind, suggested that hadn't happened recently.
"We haven't played well the last two weeks," Taylor said.
"Our key guys got up and lifted when we needed them (against Richmond)," he added, singling out a fantastic goal from skipper Joel Selwood that started the scoring in the fourth term.
Selwood barged through a pack and kicked truly from the cusp of the 50m arc, only for Trent Cotchin to reply with a captain's goal of his own that reduced the Cats' lead to six points.
Geelong young guns Jordan Murdoch and Taylor Hunt provided clutch goals in response and that was enough, with the siren sounding as Sam Lloyd celebrated his third goal that put the Tigers within reach of the lead.
"It wasn't a cracking game by any stretch," Scott said of his side's smallest and least breathtaking win of 2014.
"We've been outstanding at times in the first seven weeks, but at other times we've been pretty average.
"So therein lies the challenge, to make sure we can maintain that outstanding footy for longer."
Richmond failed to kick a goal until there were five-and-a-half minutes left in the opening half, but from that point on rediscovered their run and dare.
However a fifth defeat ensured coach Damien Hardwick's overriding emotion was disappointment.
"We lost, you commend the effort but the result is still unacceptable," Hardwick said.
Tigers veteran Chris Newman suffered a calf injury and is likely to spend at least three weeks on the sidelines.
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