Coach Chris Scott admits Geelong's run of midyear losses must be addressed after the Cats blew a golden opportunity to climb into the AFL's top four.
Geelong's record in games immediately after the midyear bye has blown out to seven straight losses following Friday night's two-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs.
The Cats threatened to snatch victory when Harry Taylor, playing his first game since round nine, lined up for goal after the siren from 25m out on a flank.
But Taylor's shot went wide and the Bulldogs snapped a five-game losing streak with a 16.7 (103) to 15.11 (101) triumph at Etihad Stadium.
While the timing of the loss was all too familiar for Cats fans, so too was the fact it came against a team near the bottom of the ladder.
Geelong's record against lower-ranked teams has been patchy in recent years but Scott insisted it wasn't a matter of complacency.
"The accusation would be that we don't bring the same intensity to games like this," Scott said.
"I'm not sure that the Bulldogs are playing like a bottom-six team right at the moment. I accept that that might sound like a bit of a flimsy excuse but I'm open to ways in which we can fix it.
"We haven't played well off the midseason bye. That's real. We've got to look at all the ways in which we can improve that."
The seventh-placed Cats will face third-placed Sydney at the SCG on Thursday night and could be bolstered by the return of Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood and Daniel Menzel, although Nakia Cockatoo (illness) has been ruled out.
Debutant Quinton Narkle proved a major positive for the Cats on Friday night, booting two goals and providing plenty of run through the midfield.
"We thought he was outstanding," Scott said.
"Some of the guys coming back too, I thought Harry Taylor was good. He gave us what we'd hoped for. Cam Guthrie helped us as well.
"We've got some room for optimism that we can get some guys back in our team over the next month or so and if they all play like that, logically you'd think we'd be a better team."
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