Cats dominant over other top-8 AFL teams Geelong could hardly be better placed to mount a formidable challenge for a fourth AFL flag in seven years following their 44-point demolition job on Sydney. A victory over Brisbane back at Simonds Stadium next weekend will guarantee the Cats a top-two finish, earning them a home final in week one of the playoffs. They now hold an 8-1 win-loss record over fellow top-eight sides - the best of any team in the competition this year. And in Norm Smith medallist Paul Chapman, they have the ultimate finals wildcard. "We're pretty confident that we play our best footy against the best teams," said Cats coach Chris Scott. Obviously we have had lapses in games this year and probably lost a couple of games where we were in control, but if I could have one or the other I'd take playing well against good teams. It's a bit like the Hawthorn thing (who the Cats have beaten in their last 11 games) - what has happened in the past doesn't really matter that much. I can't speak for how it affects other teams, but it does give us a level of confidence. ... we know our best is good enough, although the other teams probably say the same thing. Sydney coach John Longmire was not shying away from the fact that the reigning premiers had come up well short against an outstanding team in the 13.14 (92) to 7.6 (48) defeat at Simonds Stadium. "They had 30 more tackles than us," said Longmire. They put enormous pressure on around the ball which allowed them to have 90 more uncontested possessions, they are as good a team as any going around and when they get that mix right they're very hard to beat. We came down here with eight players who didn't play at the end of last year and I think we all got a taste of what it's like to play the best at their best. Longmire will need to find a replacement for running defender Rhyce Shaw, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and faces a long stint on the sidelines. As the Swans were losing another key player, the Cats were welcoming one back, with Chapman playing his first senior game since round four after finally recovering from serious hamstring problems. With ruckman Nathan Vardy being taken from the ground early in the first term before being cleared of concussion, Chapman was gifted the luxury of two separate stints as a substitute. Fourteen possessions and a goal were a fine return, with Scott keen to give the 248-gamer a full match next week against the Lions ahead of yet another finals campaign.