HAWTHORN'S 11th successive loss to Geelong hasn't damaged the side's self-belief as the season heads towards September, says coach Alastair Clarkson.

The Hawks' 10-point loss to the Cats at the MCG ended their club-record equalling 12-game winning streak. Geelong has won every clash between the two teams since their upset loss in the 2008 Grand Final.

With the two teams level on points at the top of the ladder, a finals showdown appears a real possibility – a prospect Clarkson maintained would hold no fear.

"We'll back ourselves every time we come to play," he said.

"We've been up for a fair while, we've played some really good footy, and a loss won't do us any harm.

"But we need to work out a way how we can win these games, rather than come up bridesmaids."

Clarkson admitted the final margin was closer than it might have been after his team started slowly in slippery conditions following pre-game rain.

The Hawks managed only five uncontested marks in the opening quarter as they struggled to adjust to both the conditions and Geelong's outstanding pressure.

"The scoreboard flattered us a bit, actually," Clarkson said.

"We never should have been close to 10 points.

"We didn't play anywhere near as well as what we can, and Geelong played really good footy, particularly early on.

"They had the game on their terms, playing the game that they wanted to play.

"Their defence was superb, they rebounded the ball really well in the first quarter in particular, controlled the ball by hand and foot, and we were stuck halfway between playing wet weather and dry weather footy.

"We didn't take the game on enough, didn't search for the options that were available to us.

"We got a little bit better after that and got ourselves back into the contest ... but ultimately if you give sides a start like that it makes them very hard to peg back, especially a side as good as Geelong."

Clarkson was also critical of the Hawks' ball use moving forward.

The Hawks went inside 50 more than their opponents (59-50) but took only nine marks inside the 50-metre arc as Geelong's defenders continually intercepted incoming kicks and did damage on the rebound.

"You've got to work out a way to disrupt the Geelong defence," Clarkson said.

"If you're really predictable in your ball movement and just bomb it long down the line, their defenders think it's a smorgasboard.

"We were particularly poor in that part of the game."

Cyril Rioli started as the substitute in his long-awaited comeback from the hamstring injury he suffered in round five.

The star small forward came on during the third quarter and finished with nine disposals, including four inside 50s, but no goals.

Clarkson said he had been tempted to inject Rioli into the game five minutes into the first quarter as the Cats pulled clear, but had restrained himself.

He said he was yet to decide if the 23-year-old would play a full game next week against Port Adelaide.