An undisciplined performance and the loss of exciting youngster Esava Ratugolea has left Geelong coach Chris Scott searching for positives after the Cats' 28-point win over Carlton.
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In Gary Ablett's first home game at Kardinia Park since departing for a seven-season stint at Gold Coast, Geelong ground out a dour 11.7 (73) to 5.15 (45) win on Saturday night.
An appropriate homecoming celebration was on the cards when the Cats banged on the first four goals, but the upstart Blues had other ideas.
They trailed by just eight points early in the final term of an uninspiring contest before Geelong finished the job.
"I don't think we played particularly well, I thought the game as a spectacle ... I thought it was a horrible game," Scott said.
"I don't think we helped ourselves much, I thought we were undisciplined at times, gave them a chance to get into the game.
"But in the positives, I thought our defensive group under pressure were outstanding at times."
"I suspect in review we'll be pleased to just take the win and move on.
"I'm sure there will be some positives we can draw from the night ... they're just not front of mind at the moment."
Ratugolea will likely miss the rest of the season after he broke his ankle in the second quarter.
The 19-year-old was sent to hospital after his right leg was trapped beneath him in a marking contest.
"It's significant but not horrific as was first thought," Scott said.
"I'm not really sure of the outlook there, but he'll obviously miss a decent chunk of footy.
"It looks likely that he will need surgery."
In his first home game at the ground since 2010, Ablett bounced back from an indifferent display in last week's shock loss to Essendon.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner finished with 25 possessions and a goal to be one of his side's better players.
"I thought he played a little too outside last week as a generalisation and he was much more inside and much more penetrating (tonight)," Scott said.
"(He put on) some good pressure and couple of really good tackles.
"I thought he was pretty good."
Harry Taylor was a late withdrawal for the Cats with a recurrence of a foot injury, but Scott is hopeful he will return next week against Gold Coast.
Australian Associated Press
