Geelong coach Chris Scott insists his players being dragged into the Willie Rioli saga has been nothing more than "mildly annoying" ahead of a crunch clash with GWS.
Rioli's verbal barbs at Cats forward Brad Close in round nine last year only came to light in recent days, after the Port Adelaide star's conduct around a threat made to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale was investigated.
Rioli also had an on-field exchange with Essendon's Archie Roberts earlier this year and was this week handed a one-match ban as a result of the incidents.
Rioli pointed at Close's head during their fiery altercation, which prompted an angry response from Geelong star Jeremy Cameron at the time.
Both Close and Roberts chose not to take the matters further, but the AFL has since reminded all 18 clubs that such incidents must be reported to league officials.
Ahead of his side's encounter with GWS at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, Scott said he had not felt the need to "micromanage" his players in the face of a possible distraction.
"They're professionals and we're there to help them through if they need it, but I think these things can become a bit self-fulfilling if you let them," Scott said.
"All along, our approach has been to respect our players' wishes.
"They're not kids and any of our players that were involved in this situation were pretty clear right from the start in that they wanted what they considered to be a private situation kept private.
"The fact that it hasn't been this week, I'm assuming it's mildly annoying to them, but that's kind of the extent of it."
Geelong (5-3) are coming off a stirring win over Collingwood and are wary of a let-down after experiencing such highs.
But Scott pointed to the Magpies' gutsy follow-up win over Fremantle when declaring his side has no excuses not to perform against GWS.
The Giants (4-4) are on a three-match losing streak but have won on each of their last four visits to Kardinia Park, in a run that started in 2019.
"It's generally because they've been a good team, which is obvious," Scott said.
"Then if you go back a long time, these things generally are quirks rather than patterns.
"We certainly don't look back to 2020 and reflect on how we played then with different personnel.
"The most relevant thing is what they've been able to do at times in the last 12 months especially.
"They've had patches where they've been if not the best then in the best couple of teams in the competition."
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield was the game-breaker against Collingwood and is enjoying a brilliant run, kicking 16 goals from eight games as he plays more often as a forward this season.
Scott said the 35-year-old is benefiting from being at full fitness in his 18th AFL season after battling injuries last year.
"He's squeaky clean now in terms of his body, which hasn't always been the case," Scott said.
"If anything he's relishing a little bit more work."
Tom Stewart will miss a second consecutive game - and third in five weeks - with a knee injury but is expected to return against Port Adelaide in round 10.
Rioli could also return in that Adelaide Oval fixture after serving his suspension.
Geelong made three changes to their team to take on GWS, with forward Gryan Miers back after he was concussed by a high blow from Hawthorn's Connor Nash on Easter Monday.
The Cats have also recalled Ted Clohesy and Jed Bews, who plays his first game of the season after overcoming a finger injury.
Lawson Humphries (concussion), Rhys Stanley (hamstring) and Oli Wiltshire (omitted) are out.
The Giants have handed a debut to draftee Cody Angove and recalled Jake Riccardi, with Toby Bedford (eye) and Darcy Jones (knee) unavailable.
