First-year Geelong coach Chris Scott inherited a team used to success and he says when times are tough he knows the Cats can still produce special efforts.

Trailing by 17 points at three-quarter time at the MCG on Saturday night against third-placed Hawthorn, the 2007 and 2009 AFL premiers kicked 3.4 in the last quarter and held the Hawks scoreless in front of 63,476 fans at the MCG.

Steve Johnson kicked two of Geelong's three goals in the final term while James Kelly with seven possessions and Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel with six were big contributors and defender Matthew Scarlett took five marks in the last quarter.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said the game had so many twists and turns it was like an Agatha Christie novel.

But Scott was confident his dual premiership players would be influential in the final chapter.

The Cats won 13.10 (88) to Hawthorn's 13.5 (83) in a gripping contest.

"I certainly have had a very small impact on that (win)," Scott said.

"The character of our players, I continue to marvel at it.

"We were outplayed for big parts of the game. In a lot of ways we were fortunate to win.

"But at the end of the day our guys do just find a way.

"It's not a fluke, it just keeps happening.

"When the chips appear to be down, our good players find a way to turn the flow of the game."

Scott said the Cats, who boast an 11-0 record after round 12, are simply aiming to qualify for the finals series as their first goal.

He said the Cats still needed to improve their tackling and their efforts around midfield, having been beaten badly in the third term.

"They (players) are fully aware that there's a lot of work to be done," Scott said, making reference to several narrow victories the Cats had enjoyed in the first half of the season.

"The win-loss record looks good but we're a long way from dominating the competition."

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