Dashing Cat ready for unfamiliar do-or-die Blues final

Geelong can look to reigning premiers Brisbane for inspiration on tackling a rare attempt at kicking off their September campaign in the cut-throat world of elimination finals.

The Cats haven't played in an elimination final since losing to Melbourne in 2018.

In that time, Chris Scott's team has finished top four and earned the double chance every year except for missing the finals in 2023.

It makes Friday night's blockbuster against Carlton at the MCG intriguing.

"I've never played in an elimination final. So super excited about that," defender Lawson Humphries told AAP.

"It's going to be a different challenge and different intensity for the first week of finals.

"But Brissie did it in 2024 - they won it from fifth. And I don't see why we can't do that either."

The defender took confidence from a strong personal performance but craves silverware.

"I see the clips and you see the boys that have won the flags and there's definitely a bit of envy.

"I don't see why we can't do it. I reckon there's probably half the team now haven't won a flag - and the rest were in that 2022 flag.

"So, we also understand that as a group, a lot of us are really hungry.

"It's actually a really good balance, having experienced premiership winners and guys that are still really desperate to win one."

Humphries has had a strong season, averaging 20.5 disposals and 5.7 marks and enjoying working under new backline coach Nathan Buckley.

"He really nails hard into us backs just about work rate," Humphries said.