1. It is true that the Eagles have some high quality talent on the sidelines, including genuine A-Graders Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Josh Kennedy, Liam Ryan and Shannon Hurn. They are now joined by Jeremy McGovern. Those in the stands can’t win games, but you still go into battle with 22 players – the same as the opposition – and those who take the field need to step up. Unfortunately that did not happen against Geelong and after quarter time the Eagles were uncompetitive.

2. The inconsistency of the club’s performances is a concern, as is the inability of them to put the brakes on when the opposition gains the ascendancy, particularly on the road. Against St Kilda a few weeks ago the Saints kicked eight goals in succession to turn a 33-point deficit into a 20 point win. Against the Cats, the Eagles led by five points at quarter-time and then Geelong kicked 13 goals in succession on their way to an emphatic victory.

3. Tackling intent can often be a measure of a team’s mental approach as much as their physical approach. Geelong regularly slipped tackles that resulted in goals, especially in the rampant second and third quarters. It also seemed the Cats were sharper in the air, often reading the ball in flight much better than their rivals and taking uncontested marks when it initially seemed Eagles players were in a position to compete.

4. While the club wears the defeat as a collective, there were a handful of players who stood up and met the standards they have set across their careers. Jack Darling and Tom Barrass could lay claim to winning in their roles, Andrew Gaff worked hard throughout to be the team’s highest possession winner and forward Jamie Cripps’ commitment to the contest could not be questioned.

5. The loss to Geelong, the heaviest defeat in the coaching tenure of Adam Simpson, does not reflect the brand that he and his coaching staff have created. Doubtless they will shine the torch on the performance, look at the areas in which the team was most deficient and work to resolve it. Some of it is obviously down to personnel and to that end there could be help on the way with both Shannon Hurn and Josh Kennedy strong chances to return for next week’s derby.