Essendon coach Brad Scott has conceded he should have been quicker to make a change on Tom Hawkins after the Geelong spearhead dominated Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.

Hawkins kicked 4.1 and took four contested marks as the leader of a 38-0 first-quarter surge that set up the Cats' 28-point win at the MCG on Sunday.

Zerk-Thatcher was no match for his far bigger and more experienced opponent, who had six goals by half-time and finished with eight in a career-best haul.

Scott switched Jordan Ridley to Hawkins at the main break but most of the damage had been done.

The Bombers entered a contest with the competition's most fearsome key forward duo - Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron - without injured defenders Jayden Laverde, James Stewart and Zach Reid.

"It was a good opportunity for him (Zerk-Thatcher) to play on a really good player," Scott said.

"We're not teaching him a lesson - we were trying to support him as best we could - but this is what happens when you play really good sides.

"We thought Ridley was doing a pretty good job on Cameron. We take Ridley off Cameron, move (Mason) Redman to Cameron and move Ridley to Hawkins, that means they can manipulate Redman a little bit ... whatever you do, there's risk attached to it.

"The change we made at halftime was good for us, so in perfect hindsight I should've done that earlier."

Scott took positives out of the performances of Sam Weideman and Jake Stringer, who combined for nine goals against Geelong.

Former Melbourne forward Weideman kicked a career-best five but Stringer was the standout in one of his best performances.

The powerful forward and part-time midfielder finished with 26 disposals, 11 clearances and four goals.

"It's a small sample size for me but that's easily the best game I've ever seen him play," Scott said.

"Geelong are a big, strong side so we asked him to get around the ball and compete and he had 20 contested possessions and looked really strong in the tackle.

"His strength and power really came to the fore."

Stringer was widely criticised for being unfit at the start the season but has strung together some strong form since returning to action in round three.

Scott pointed out last year's groin injuries and concussion issues as reasons for the slow start.

Stringer's latest display could quieten some of his critics.

"I get the frustration and you'd love to have him in great shape at the start of the year but there were reasons why he wasn't in perfect shape.

"The four goals is the finishing stuff that we know he can do but what I was really pleased with was his effort in the contest.

"He was fantastic against some really good players in there."