HAWTHORN players and coaches search for elite performances each week and know they can improve.

It might be a scary thought for the rest of the competition given the Hawks are a game clear on top of the AFL ladder and are currently on a 12-week winning streak.

Undoubtedly, the Hawks are enjoying one of their best seasons since it entered the VFL in 1925 - having equalled its best-ever winning streak with last Sunday’s win over Brisbane.

But the players and coaches aren’t resting on their laurels.

The Hawks haven’t been beaten since Round 1, when it was defeated by this Saturday night’s opponent, Geelong by seven points.

Since then, the Hawks have kicked 140 or more points on five occasions, held its opposition to under 100 points in 12 of its 13 matches.

Only West Coast has kicked over 100 points, booting 103 points against the Hawks in Round 13.

Most would be relatively pleased with the 12-1 record and having the best forward line and a defence ranked in the top three, but not Hawthorn.

Coach Alastair Clarkson, his coaches and players aren’t satisfied just yet.

“You like to be in this position on top of the ladder but ultimately the focus is on refining our game and looking at all the little intricacies of our game and ways in which we can improve,” Bolton told hawthornfc.com.au

“Although we’re sitting in a pretty good position at the moment, the players aren’t by any means satisfied and neither are the coaches - we’re always looking for little ways to refine our game.

“We’ve just set some really high standards now internally and as individuals.

“They’re not satisfied in terms of just looking for constant improvement.”

That constant desire for improvement stems from the attitude of the players and coaches to achieve what it calls “elite” performance and attitude.

It’s what Hawthorn believes will take it deep into September this season.

“We’re after elite performance, so when you’re looking for elite performance you’re looking for elite attitude,” Bolton explained.

“We’re a hard coaching group to satisfy most of the time and so are the players because we set really high benchmarks.

“We’ve been really pleased with our effort, but there’s parts of our game we’re looking to refine and be better at because we’ve got an elite attitude.

“That might be a little bit hard and a little bit picky but that’s what you’ve got to do to try and be there at the end of the year.”