Geelong tightened their grip on top spot but face the risk of losing key players to injury and suspension ahead of Saturday's AFL clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

The Cats, minus Max Rooke, Cameron Ling, Matthew Scarlett, Tom Hawkins, Brad Ottens and Joel Corey, scraped past West Coast by 24 points at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

But Cameron Mooney (0.1 from six possessions) had little impact after rolling his left ankle early in the contest while fellow forward James Podsiadly, who tweaked his groin when he slipped on a piece of carpet before the match, also struggled on his way to 1.3.

Podsiadly could also come under scrutiny for his flashing elbow on West Coast defender Will Schofield, while Corey Enright's crunching late bump on Adam Selwood, which left the Eagle nursing a serious shoulder injury, is also set to be assessed by the match review panel.

West Coast led by six points when Nic Naitanui kicked a typically freakish goal in the opening seconds of the third term but the Cats kicked the final three goals of the match to post the unconvincing 18.14 (122) to 14.14 (98) win.

Geelong sit a game clear on top of the table at the mid-point of the season but coach Mark Thompson warned his players not to get carried away, especially considering their lengthy injury list.

"We're on top of the ladder still (but) we're a long way off playing our best footy," Thompson said.

"It's a big test and football teams can just slip away in a matter of weeks, in a matter of one week, and it sort of happened to us with no Ling and a lot of players missing.

"We are certainly not getting carried away.

"It is a long season. You've got to stick your head down and just do your work."

Thompson expects Ling to return against the Bombers and praised his players for their ability to deal with the ever-present hype surrounding the club.

"They are special," he said.

"I'm not sure whether we really motivate anyone. We are all pretty self motivated.

"We know we've just got to keep improving and getting the best out of ourselves to stay where we are.

"It wasn't our best night of football we've ever played but in saying that you had this huge expectation that we have from everywhere that we've just got to play the best footy every week - that's certainly not coming from within.

"It's hard all the time but we scratched out another win which we're very proud of."

Eagles coach John Worsfold confirmed Selwood damaged the AC joint in his shoulder, with scans to determine the full extent of the damage.

Sam Butler (ankle) is in doubt for Sunday's clash with Richmond at the MCG, while Schofield (hip) may also struggle to play.

Mitch Brown, who was recalled in place of dumped forward Quinten Lynch, booted just one behind from 13 possessions but Worsfold said the 21-year-old showed enough to keep his spot.

"(He) worked very hard, pretty pleased for his first game back in a game of that intensity," Worsfold said.

"... I expect he'll be in the side for a while."

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