‘We’d prefer he wasn’t in the team’: Chris Scott admits Cats will struggle to nullify Nick Daicos’ influence..READ MORE…

That is the question for Geelong coach Chris Scott, as they prepare for their battle with Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.

Daicos is averaging 30.6 disposals a game, with 7.4 clearances. Both are in the elite category.

Scott has declared his side is going in with a plan, but of course, wishes Daicos wasn’t a worry for the Cats.

“We’d prefer if he wasn’t in the team,” Scott said.

“We wouldn’t have to waste five hours going through all the what-ifs with him (Daicos).

“Everyone has a plan. We’ll have a plan for Nick (Daicos). Collingwood will have a plan for (Geelong defender) Tom Stewart.”

Meantime, the fight for the top eight continues for Scott’s men, who dropped six of seven games across May and June, after starting their season 7-0.

Nine teams are separated by just eight points in the fight for the top eight.

Scott admitted this season has been the toughest to navigate.

“It’s terrible. It’s stressful,” he said.

“For those who are having a crack at their ladder predictor this far out, my advice is, don’t do it. It messes with your head.

“It’s so hard to predict anyway and we know things will change.”

But the Cats are on a two-game win streak, collecting victories over Essendon and Hawthorn.

“I feel like … probably the second half of the Essendon game and last week (against Hawthorn), aside from some execution, is probably as good as we’ve felt about our game all year,” Scott said.

The Cats sit in fifth on the ladder, while the Pies are in ninth.