Is there a chance Geelong didn’t show all its cards in Thursday night’s nine-point loss to Fremantle?

That’s the belief of AFL greats Jason Dunstall and Leigh Montagna, who suspect the Cats kept some tactical weapons in reserve for a potential finals rematch with the ladder-leading Dockers.

Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Chris Scott’s side were extremely valiant in the Round 15 defeat, and did so without star midfielder Bailey Smith who didn’t make the trip across the country through illness. Five-time All-Australian Tom Stewart was also absent as he continues to recover in concussion protocols after a head knock a fortnight ago.

Additionally, reigning Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron was quiet with just six disposals, two marks and two goals as he continues to battle both a hip complaint and forearm issue.

“I did speak to him post-game, and he didn’t mention it. I think the bye will come at a good time for him in a general sense,” Scott said of Cameron.

“The feedback we’ve got around him is that obviously he’s had this sort of arm injury that, and we have a very conservative approach with these things. If that was really restricting him, or there was any potential for further damage, we wouldn’t be playing him.

“Even Bailey’s a good example of that, he was sick. Could we have pushed it right to the end? Maybe, but we’re just not in the business of pushing guys to play; especially when it might kind of put them in a hole for a week or two afterwards.”

Dockers hold on to beat the Cats | 03:07

“Even if you look at tonight — and this is far from the reason that we didn’t win the game — but when the margin’s tight and you’ve got closely matched opposition … you come away and think: ‘We’re not that far off them’.

“(Caleb) Serong in was really good for them, he played well. And it’s hard not to think that we would’ve liked to have Bailey and Tom Stewart. But, from memory when we played them earlier in the year … there might’ve been one or two others (injured for Freo).

“I think the secret is to take the game on its merits.”

Intriguingly, last year’s grand finalists also opted not to tag any of Fremantle’s midfielders, instead going head-to-head with all of Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, Hayden Young, Shai Bolton and second-year star Murphy Reid.

Scott was instead glass-half-full on the result, while conceding there may have been opportunities to deploy a different matchup strategy.

“We’re not that good, that at this stage we’d be holding back things because we ‘know’ we’re going to get a chance against them,” Scott said.

Shai Bolton produces MOTY contender! | 00:30

“The difference between being way out in front on top of the ladder, and being fourth, is not that great. The advantage you get is a home final, which doesn’t necessarily get it done for you.

“Maybe if we get the chance to play them again, I doubt that we would be looking at Round 1 — that would just be too far away. Again, things change so quickly.

Dunstall and Montagna weren’t entirely convinced the Cats had shown their full hand, however, given they remain the only side to have defeated Fremantle this season.

“Undermanned, they gave themselves a chance on the toughest road trip in the game against the best team,” AFL Hall of Fame legend Dunstall said post-match on Fox Footy.

“I suspect, given what he mentioned about Oisin Mullin and a couple of other match-ups — visually it didn’t look like there were genuine hard tags tonight, and I think they kept their powder dry in a couple of cases.”

287-game Saint Leigh Montagna added: “I tend to agree, considering last week they played Gold Coast and almost had three tags going: (Matt) Rowell, Touk Miller and (Christian) Petracca.

“Tonight, to not really have any strong tag … he was quietly confident, wasn’t he? I think he sat back and goes: ‘Okay, I’ve had a good look at Fremantle … it doesn’t matter if they finish 22-1. If we finish fourth, there’s not much difference coming into a prelim (final).’”

After their Round 16 bye, Geelong host premiers Brisbane in a Thursday night Grand Final rematch at GMHBA Stadium.