Coach Chris Scott hopes Geelong's see-sawing 15-point comeback win over North Melbourne can match-harden the Cats for their looming AFL finals campaign.
A rampant first quarter, where North kicked seven goals to Geelong's one, had the Kangaroos - who led by 39 early in the second term - daring to dream of an epic upset.
Geelong responded with a second-quarter blitz of nine goals, taking the lead by halftime, then prevailing in a 19.11 (125) to 17.8 (110) shootout to stay in the top six and in touch with the top four.
Scott said Geelong were "beaten by a better team" early - with North having 22-5 first-quarter clearances - but hung in and turned things their way.
"It's hard to know exactly but I suspect games like that help you a little bit for the games that might be coming up," Scott said.
"It's a nice trait for a team to have. When things aren't going your way you've got a bit of faith and optimism that it's possible to turn it around.
"... You can't choose your draw and you can't choose your path into finals.
"I think last year we had, on paper, a bit of a softer draw. And the question was, 'are you sort of match-hardened?'
"Well if that's important, today was good for us."
The loss in front of 35,329 fans at Marvel Stadium ends North's faint wildcard hopes, meaning they will finish their season against Sydney.
"We had a terrific start to the game and the manner in which we played in the first quarter, strangely enough, was probably unsustainable for four quarters of footy," coach Alastair Clarkson said.
North star Harry Sheezel was ruled out just before halftime with a left cheekbone injury suffered in a head clash with Oisin Mullin and will have scans.
"Given the swelling around the eye and the bruising, it'll be pretty unlikely he's going to be available next week," Clarkson said of a "sore and sorry" Sheezel.
Tristan Xerri (11 clearances, 28 hitouts, 17 disposals) dominated early then was reined in by Mark Blicavs (three goals, 18 disposals, 17 hitouts) and Mitch Edwards (23 hitouts, two goals).
North's Finn O'Sullivan (25 touches) and Jy Simpkin (26 disposals, two goals) were everywhere.
Nick Larkey (five goals), Jack Darling (four goals) and Cooper Trembath (three goals) had pivotal moments.
Cat Ollie Dempsey (24 disposals and 10 score involvements) took a contested mark and goaled to help seal victory.
Bailey Smith (34 disposals) and Tanner Bruhn (28) were busy, while Jay Polkinghorne (three goals), Shaun Mannagh (three goals, 20 touches), Shannon Neale (two) and Patrick Dangerfield (two) hit the scoreboard.
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Geelong fought back brilliantly then led by 15 in the third quarter before Trembath kicked three goals to put North in front at three-quarter time.
The Cats regained the lead - then North almost reeled them back in again before Geelong composed themselves late.
Young Cat Oli Wiltshire (foot) sat out the second half while James Worpel (hamstring) also came off and Sam De Koning (knee bursar) was withdrawn earlier this week.
