What a difference a run of games at home makes.

Three weeks ago the Cats were on the slide after consecutive losses against Collingwood, Gold Coast and Essendon.

Now, however, they're once again sitting pretty in the top four, just one win behind the ladder-leading GWS Giants.

Geelong's past three matches, all of which have taken place at Simonds Stadium, have been very impressive.

They have despatched three premiership contenders - the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Adelaide - and have regained the toughness and aggression that was a hallmark of their performances in the first half-dozen rounds.

The win over the Crows was undoubtedly the Cats' most impressive effort in the past three weeks.

After all, Adelaide had gone into the game on top of the ladder after a 100-point win over Fremantle the previous weekend.

If not for some wonky kicking for goal, the contest would have been all over by half-time.

But that glitch mattered little in the end, as Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield led the way yet again and the boys in the hoops recorded their eighth win of the season.

Selwood was at his courageous best, copping bumps and knocks and getting a nasty gash on his head yet still finishing with 35 disposals in an amazing display.

Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of Geelong's performance was the team's defensive strength.

The Crows went into the match averaging 124 points per game, but the Cats restricted them to just 74 points.

So the Cats head to their mid-season bye with an impressive 8-3 record.

And that leads us to wonder, have they been better than expected this season?

Use the poll below to let us know.