Geelong coach Mark Thompson has blasted his players' attitude, after its AFL final eight hopes all but evaporated with an upset loss to the Kangaroos in Canberra today.
The ninth-placed Cats' 13.12 (90) to 8.12 (60) defeat at Manuka Oval left the top eight looking settled, with eighth-placed Fremantle now enjoying a two-game buffer with five rounds left.
The Dockers notched an uninspiring, but extremely valuable, 15.17 (107) to 13.11 (89) win over Carlton at Telstra Dome, their fourth victory in a row, to stay on track for what would be the club's second finals series in its history.
Adding to the pain of the Cats' loss, star forward Gary Ablett (shoulder) and midfielder Cameron Ling (concussion) were injured and tough utility Cameron Mooney was reported.
Thompson said the most disappointing aspect of the loss was that so much was on the line, yet the players' intensity level was so low.
"We started pretty poorly, we had a poor attitude from the start and it just looked like the Kangaroos - who did not have as much to play for as us - certainly looked like they did," he said.
He also criticised Mooney, who was in his first game back after a one-game striking ban, and could be handed his third suspension for the season.
Mooney was reported in the opening quarter for crashing into the `Roos' Daniel Pratt, after arriving late at a marking contest.
"I did not see it, but the fact that it was controversial and he did get reported, that is not good enough again," Thompson said.
Midfielder James Bartel could also attract the match review panel's attention for making head-high contact with Shannon Grant, while running with the flight of the ball close to halftime.
Defender Tom Harley said Thompson questioned the players' commitment after the match.
"He challenged a couple of the older guys, the leadership group, and asked us where we wanted to go," Harley said.
"We definitely want to stay in the hunt and don't want to throw the season away."
The Cats will need to win at least four of their remaining five matches to make the finals.
But they face a tough draw, with a trip to the Gabba to play Brisbane next weekend, followed by clashes with St Kilda, Sydney and Melbourne.
Richmond, in 10th place, is the only other club within two victories of the top eight. But the Tigers' woeful percentage, further depleted by their 103-point loss to St Kilda at the MCG yesterday, means they will most likely have to win all five of their remaining games.
While the door into the eight is fast shutting, the contest for top four spots remains wide open.
Melbourne is in third position, thanks to its 18.11 (119) to 9.14 (68) runaway victory over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG today, its 12th win of the season.
Fourth-placed St Kilda, with 11 wins, is only ahead of fifth-placed Collingwood on percentage, with Sydney, the Bulldogs and the Dockers all one win back.
The Magpies defeated Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night, while Sydney overcame Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last night.
The fight for the minor premiership also remains alive, after West Coast's thumping 82-point victory over Adelaide at Subiaco yesterday left the Eagles only one win adrift of the top-placed Crows.
The contest for the wooden spoon is even tighter, after Essendon eased ahead of Carlton by a small percentage gap with its victory over Brisbane at Telstra Dome last night.
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