They now face Port Adelaide, the Bulldogs, Fremantle, Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane in a testing run home that ensures they will have to earn a spot in the top four.

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“We’ve got some challenges coming up but we’re looking forward to them,” Goodwin said.

They also have challenges off the field with Luke Jackson looking increasingly likely to return to Western Australia to play with Fremantle in 2023 while Angus Brayshaw remains unsigned.

He said midfielder Clayton Oliver’s thumb was just bruised while Max Gawn is expected to improve on his first game back from a syndesmosis injury.

Cats coach Chris Scott said they were evolving as a team with the move of Tom Atkins into the centre transforming a group that includes the in-form Cam Guthrie and fresh Patrick Dangerfield.

However, he has been here before admitting the result won’t mean much later in the season if the two teams meet again.

“We won’t get carried away with the win. It won’t make us the best team in the competition because we beat them at home but what it does say to our players is the things we have been working on can stand up against the very best teams.” Scott said.

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