Geelong coach Mark Thompson hasn't felt the pain of defeat too often in the past two years.

But Thompson admitted the Cats were hurting following their 43-point loss to Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The 2007 premiership coach revealed he didn't lose too much sleep over last round's thrilling six-point defeat at the hands of St Kilda.

However, the experienced Cats mentor admitted going down to the Lions had certainly proved a wake up call.

"It wasn't such a bad thing losing last week, but coming up (to Brisbane) we (didn't) intend to lose this game and we should have played better," Thompson said.

"We're not happy, the players aren't happy and we've got a fair bit of work to do as a club."

To compound Thompson's disappointment, 2007 Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel was reported for rough conduct on Luke Power in the third term before being helped off the field after colliding with a goalpost.

It would have been tempting, but Thompson offered no excuses after the Cats lost consecutive games for the first time since round five, 2007.

It was only their fifth loss in 60 games and first to the Lions in four years.

Six players failed to back up from their bruising clash with St Kilda - then Andrew Mackie (thigh) was a late withdrawal at the Gabba.

The injury list read like a Geelong "who's who", boasting the likes of Brownlow Medal favourite Gary Ablett, Cameron Ling and Matthew Scarlett.

"It (injuries) probably had some effect but it wasn't the reason why we lost. We're not blaming that," Thompson said.

"With six days (turnaround since Saints game) and travelling, we didn't cope or manage our players really well.

"It was a fantastic game (against Saints), a tough man's game, played all the way to the end, and then not recover, means that we weren't ready for that sort of game.

"So we have to work on that as well."

Thompson expected "two or three" injured players to return next round against Melbourne but did not believe the physical Lions clash had added to their casualty list.

He said Bartel - tagged brilliantly by Cheynee Stiller on Saturday night - had "hurt an area that was a bit sore last week" by hitting the goalpost but was expected to back up against the Demons.

Thompson said he wasn't concerned about Bartel being booked.

"It's) just part of the game. It wasn't malicious or anything," he said.

"If they don't throw it out we will see what we will do with defending it. But we didn't think there was a lot in it."

Geelong forward Cameron Mooney, with one goal from 12 marks, was quiet again. However, Thompson said he was pleased with his "attitude and personality around the club".

Max Rooke (two majors) was Geelong's only multiple goal scorer while Paul Chapman (35 touches) was easily top Cat.

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