Geelong are confident their backline will hold firm amid multiple injury setbacks, with there being some uncertainty surrounding the return timeframe for veteran Jake Kolodjashnij.
Kolodjashnij hasn't played this year due to multiple setbacks, experiencing further issues after returning to the field via the VFL against Carlton in April after an interrupted start to his campaign.
The defender's sidelined stint comes as the Cats sit without Sam De Koning for the next month due to a shoulder injury, placing a greater reliance on Jack Henry, Mark Blicavs, Zach Guthrie and Connor O'Sullivan in Chris Scott's rearguard.
Geelong struggled to quell Brisbane's attacking contingent on Friday night at Kardinia Park, conceding 14 goals as Logan Morris (five), Cameron Rayner (three) and Kai Lohmann (two) each booted multiple majors.
Speaking after the loss, Scott said he remained confident in his backline holding down the fort, while hoping to have both Kolodjashnij and De Koning back in the home stretch.
"We're hoping to get Kolodjashnij back at some point, he will help," Scott said.
"[Our current defenders] have been good for us, and we do feel like we have some flexibility.
"Even in a bad loss, I thought Jack Henry was outstanding tonight. He's had a really good season.
"I'd prefer to have De Koning in there, but we're not like some other teams... maybe early in the year we lost all of our defenders at once, that is hard, but there are some teams who have almost lost them all.
"But when you lose one, I think you can cover for that. We're looking to get him back."
On Kolodjashnij's return, the Cats are expected to have a more defined return date in the coming days after his minor groin procedure.
Not ruling the premiership defender out of the season, Scott said the road back is unclear for the Tasmanian at this point.
"I have no idea what our club says in terms of the injury outlooks," the Cats coach explained.
"Indefinite. I was more referencing the fact that there's eight games to go, hopefully finals if you're good enough.
"That adds up to three months, and we'd be confident he'd be in the picture there."
Geelong are also planning to have veteran midfielder Cam Guthrie back from a calf issue in the coming weeks, while young onballer Jhye Clark has been sidelined with concussion.
The Cats have a bye in Round 16, with their next game to come on July 5 when they face Richmond at GMHBA Stadium.
