Six goals ultimately proved enough for Geelong to record victory in trying conditions.
The Cats will now lick their wounds ahead of a crucial encounter with the in-form Eagles next Saturday night, with captain Joel Selwood (hamstring) and experienced midfielder Jack Steven (managed) a chance to return.
Ruck duo Rhys Stanley (knee) and Darcy Fort (foot) have already been ruled out, as well as forward Luke Dahlhaus (foot), but onballer Quinton Narkle (hamstring) will attempt to prove his fitness later this week.
"I'm optimistic (about Selwood)," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
"I know from the outside, and I would think this way as well if I didn't see him train and talk to him every day, that why wouldn't you just give him the extra week? We're sort of thinking that this might be the extra week.
"He was pretty close this week, but we play on Saturday and then we play again the following Wednesday. We'd need to be really sure, but it's on the table.
"We're taking the long view with (Steven). We've had a plan in place for quite a while that's going to involve some things that are hard to understand from the outside.
"He's got a training program that we think will have him right to play throughout this little period with short breaks, but we don't intend to play him every week."
