SOME Geelong fans might have seen a glimmer of hope in the Cats scintillating third-quarter run when they slammed on six quick goals against the Bulldogs.

The ferocious tackling was back, the intensity was like the first 14 rounds of the season, and their skills were something to behold.

But for Joel Corey that patch of brilliance was more a disappointment than something to be celebrated.

“To see what you saw in the third quarter, and in patches of the fourth, to go with what we served up in the first half – you might look at it as good but from our point of view it isn’t,” he said.

“That was one of the topics [coach Mark Thompson] mentioned [after the game].

“We didn’t serve it up for the whole four quarters, it was patches again. You can’t win games of football by playing in patches.”

For almost two seasons the other sides have been plotting the demise of the Cats.

Corey acknowledged it was tough at the top but said there was only one way to deal with it.

“That’s AFL football and we have got to take that and throw something back at them,” he said.

“We like to think our list has a bit of depth so we are putting out some good players, we are not up to good AFL standard at the moment.”

Corey also warned that the return of any single player, including ruckman Brad Ottens, would not drastically change the way the side was playing.

“Brad is a quality player, a good clearance player but I wouldn’t be putting too much expectation on him,” Corey said.

“He injured himself in round two and has only played VFL footy since, so if he’s the answer to our team we are going to struggle.”

Corey is getting back to top form in his more customary role in the midfield. He gorged on 39 possessions on Friday night and retains faith that it is not too late for his team to regain form in 2009.

Geelong faces Fremantle at Skilled Stadium next week and the following week looks likely to play Collingwood in a qualifying final.

Many Magpies have already notched that down as a win but Corey says there’s still life in the old Cats.

“I have confidence in this group and I know that [football like] the third quarter is still there,” he said.

“I wouldn’t write ourselves off but we definitely need to improve.”