Geelong AFL coach Chris Scott knew his side were in for a tough match when Jimmy Bartel’s wayward handball led to a Collingwood goal in the first minute of Saturday night’s MCG clash.

The Cats were beaten for the first time this season, 15.12 (102) to 14.12 (96), as Collingwood booted four goals to Geelong’s one in the final term in front of more than 66,000 fans.

Norm Smith Medallist, Brownlow Medallist and triple-premiership player Bartel made four errors in the first 10 minutes as the Magpies’ defensive pressure took a heavy toll.

Trailing by 26 points at halftime, the Cats fought back with an eight-goal third term.

Despite strong performances from Mathew Stokes, Corey Enright and big forward Tom Hawkins (four goals), the Cats were overpowered.

“Something like that happening is as bad a sign as you’re ever going to see because it doesn’t happen too often,” Scott said of Bartel’s clumsy handball.

“We accept there’s going to be skill errors. When they come from a player who has made so few across a 12-year period, it surprises you a bit more.

“It wasn’t the main reason that we lost.”

Geelong’s famous skills went missing in the first half and the loss of another Norm Smith Medallist Steve Johnson, who was a late withdrawal from the selected side with a calf injury, robbed the Cats of their most in-form midfielder.

The Cats (7-1) play Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday and Scott is not hiding the fact Geelong have a long way to go to be genuine premiership threats.

Scott hopes to regain Johnson this week while Billie Smedts, who was subbed out with an ankle injury, is in doubt and James Kelly remains out of action through suspension.

“Was their pressure really good or did we just not handle the pressure?” Scott said.

“It was a bit of both.

“We’ve been, three, four, five goals down in virtually every game we’ve played this year. That’s not the hallmark of an unbeatable side.”