The AFL premiership race is wider open than most think, with Sydney having shown that sides in the bottom half of the top eight are genuine threats, says Geelong coach Chris Scott.

Scott said there were areas the Cats needed to fix after being upset 15.9 (99) to 12.14 (86) by the Swans at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.

But he said the result was more due to Sydney's sustained pressure than the Cats having a particularly bad day.

"I didn't think we were horrendous today, I thought the opposition were very good and we weren't quite at our best and that's enough," Scott said.

"We know that that will be the situation in finals as well."

While the ladder suggests a gulf between the top five and the rest, with Collingwood the clear standouts, Scott said the Swans' form should stand as a warning.

"People have a tendency of looking at the ladder and seeing where the gap is and making sweeping generalisations," he said.

"I don't think Collingwood are miles in front of everyone else either.

"I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that the side that finishes seventh or eighth could really trouble the top sides, all those things are very real.

"We need to play somewhere near our best to win every week and if we're a little bit off and the opposition are good we'll get beaten.

"It's the same for Collingwood, it's the same for Hawthorn, Carlton and West Coast."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP