MIDFIELDER Brad Sewell believes Hawthorn's 19-point loss at the MCG on Tuesday stemmed from his side's inability to quell a potent Geelong on-ball brigade.

Sewell was among the Hawks' best, picking up 27 disposals, including 15 contested possessions and an equal game-high five centre clearances.

But the 27-year-old's determined in-and-under efforts were not enough to see Hawthorn win the midfield battle against a Cats team packed with in-form stars.

"I think they ran over the top of us late a little bit and it felt as though their bigger bodies got hold of us around the ball," Sewell said post-game.

"What do you do? There's (Jimmy Bartel), there's Joel Corey, there's (Joel) Selwood, there's (Paul) Chapman rolling through there as well, so one of them at the very least is going to have a day out.

"And that's not even to mention James Kelly either - he's having a great start to the year.

"One of them, if not two, if not three are going to have a good day, and when they do, invariably they'll win."

With almost 80,000 screaming fans in attendance on a bright and sunny Melbourne afternoon, Sewell remarked that the occasion reminded him of the Hawks' last win over Geelong, the 2008 Grand Final.

And he said the contest itself also bore finals-like qualities, with both sides exerting intense pressure throughout the match.

"I thought today, particularly in the second half, we saw both sides fumbling a little bit," Sewell said.

"A few of our old stagers fumbled the ball a little bit and I felt that they did as well, and I think that's a fair indication of the pressure that was applied from both sides."

Hawthorn now sits fifth on the ladder with three wins and two losses.

Although disappointed to lose, Sewell saw an upside from the game as the Hawks head to the bye before a road trip to face Port Adelaide in round seven.

"I guess the positive out of it is that we were there," he said.

"We were in the game, we had the ability, the opportunities to gain control and score, and ultimately we could have won.

"So we're on the right track, and that's a genuine feeling amongst the boys. We'll just keep on forging ahead."