Geelong coach Mark Thompson was full of praise for his makeshift defence - minus Matthew Scarlett as well as long-term casualty Matthew Egan - after the Cats conceded just 49 points, its best defensive effort of the season so far against Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.

On a day when the reigning premiers were considered vulnerable with their champion defender missing for the first time this season - Thompson watched proudly as Port kicked just seven goals for the game - just one more than they managed during the record 119-point loss to the Cats in last year's grand final.

But Thompson said the challenge for his team - which has now moved back to top place on the AFL ladder (above Hawthorn on percentage) with 11 wins from 12 games and 30 from their past 32 in total - was to perform again without Scarlett against West Coast in Perth next week.

"It was a huge challenge, they had to stand up and they did that and I was very pleased with the way the back six played," Thompson said on Sunday.

In Scarlett's absence it was the unheralded Andrew Mackie who was outstanding in defence, playing one of his best games for the Cats, while Thompson also praised the work of youngster Harry Taylor and veteran Darren Milburn.

"Together they helped each other really well," he said.

But Thompson said the work of the Geelong midfield - which restricted Port to just 39 forward entries (inside 50's) compared to Geelong's 65 - made the job of his undermanned defence that much easier.

"That (midfield pressure) is what needed to happen today and we played some pretty good footy."

Thompson was also proud of the way his team concentrated on playing football on a day when his players were continually provoked by Port's niggling tactics.

"It was an interesting game, they fired us up - no doubt about it they got us angry pretty quick."

"But we did (stick to playing football) and it's important we don't (get sucked in)."

"We want to be known for our ability to play football not the ability to fight and be distracted by it and if we did get distracted then all that would happen is the next team would do it."

"So I am really proud that we stuck at playing football because that is what the game is about."