Probably top 4 again, but there is a cliff coming.
Just a comment on the first half dominance. Losing Vlas early meant our defence was all at sea for quite a while. We looked very unlike ourselves until the later part of the 2nd quarter. Geelong did really well to take advantage, but ran out of steam. I reckon this is their weakness, they find the hard running repeat multiple effort game style hard to deal with. And that game style is what teams are successful doing now. Unless they change their style, which requires new players, I can't see them winning the GF next year. But then they are very good and some smart tactics might make it work.
Disclaimer: I don't disagree with the points you're making.
BUT. This is something i don't understand about footy commentary. 3 days ago the Cats got within maybe a couple of goals of probably putting that game beyond reach. Why would the issue that, while it admittedly hurt us, prevent us from winning on another day? On another day the opposition guy doesn't nail 4 brilliant goals and might kick 1.3. On another day we run into a side as frozen as 2019 GWS. On another day Hawkins kicks 3.0 in the first half instead of 1.2.
You don't have to completely restructure a team on the basis of about 25 minutes of average footy against a good side. You just have to tweak some things and, like any side that wins anything, hope the cards fall your way.