Coach Chris Scott admits Geelong are lucky to have scored one win in their past three matches, but he says their run of poor form is over.

The AFL's second-placed side started the season with 13 consecutive wins.

However, Geelong suffered losses to Essendon and West Coast and battled to a come-from-behind win last week over 15th-placed Brisbane.

The Cats will start as red-hot favourites for their clash with 13th-placed Richmond at Etihad Stadium, with premiership star Matthew Scarlett (back soreness) returning to the side.

"I've got no doubt that we'll play better in the next two or three months than we have in the last month," Scott said on Thursday.

"You could ask me to prove it, I can't do that. That's just my feeling."

While Scott says the Cats will click into gear very soon, he also warns that playing the Tigers could be a tricky assignment.

"Essendon didn't play well the week before they played us (in round 15)," Scott said.

"But they played very well, we played not so well and we got beaten.

"Brisbane were a little bit the same. We easily could have been beaten on the weekend.

"Most people would have said they shouldn't have challenged us.

"But the difference between winning and losing is a very fine line.

"We've got to make sure we're on and we start playing better football than we have in the past month.

"We've certainly got a big list of players available."

The Cats continued to take the big-picture approach on Thursday, naming a 25-man squad that didn't include skipper Cameron Ling (soreness).

Two-time premiership ruckman Brad Ottens, who has served a one-match suspension, was also rested.

Key forward Cam Mooney, 31, was again left out despite kicking 15 goals in five games in the VFL.

The triple-premiership player, who booted four goals last week for Geelong's reserves, has battled knee problems.

"The plan was to get him up for August and September. That plan appears to be going really well and he's giving himself every chance," Scott said.

Geelong's Marcus Drum, a 24-year-old ex-Docker who has played 22 AFL games, retired on Thursday after a series of injury setbacks.

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