Geelong coach Chris Scott will use last week’s slow start to motivate his players for their upcoming clash with North Melbourne.

The Cats conceded the first five goals on Saturday night against the Dockers, which proved decisive in the 32-point loss.

“Not that we need more motivation, we try as hard as we can every single week, but given the way we started against Fremantle we are pretty keen to make amends for that,” Scott told the media ahead of Friday night’s match at Simonds Stadium.

Despite the Cats having won 51 of their last 54 games at home, Scott won’t be complacent against the Roos.

“They’re (the Kangaroos) in a group of teams that are probably below the very best, but well and truly above the bottom five or six on the ladder,” he said.

“… so that tends to mean that your best is very, very good, but you can be a bit inconsistent.

“It’s a reflection of the opposition as well. If you’re a little bit off and they are right on, you can look pretty ordinary and I think that was the case with us on the weekend.

“We have no choice but to anticipate their very best, and we need to match it.”

After a strong start to the season, Geelong too has been inconsistent, losing to Port Adelaide and the Dockers while only just scraping over the line against Richmond.

A win this week is vital to secure a spot in the top four but the Cats will need to get the balance right, particularly in the ruck.

“It’s a discussion and a debate that we are having every week, and while we had anticipated not going in with the three big guys (Hamish McIntosh, Mark Blicavs, Dawson Simpson) regularly, we’ve done it almost every week.

“It very much does have an influence when the opposition’s only got the one ruckman, but (Drew) Petrie is a 200 centimetre player as well, he’s an accomplished ruckman, and they have the option of (Daniel) Currie as well.”

Geelong could also face the challenge of going in without one of their Brownlow favourites, Steve Johnson.

The dynamic midfielder was charged with misconduct against the Dockers’ Ryan Crowley, with the club still to decide whether to accept a one-match sanction.