JUST as its loss to Richmond was a wake-up call that triggered a surge to the top four, ruckman David Hale says Hawthorn's two-point defeat at the hands of Geelong on Friday night could be a further spur approaching September.

When the Hawks suffered their 62-point thrashing by the Tigers in round nine, their win-loss record fell to 5-4 and they were jostling just for a place in the top eight.

What followed was a lot of soul searching and eight straight big wins, catapulting them back to premiership favouritism.

Now, hopes Hale, Friday night's result - which ended with Cat Tom Hawkins kicking a match-winning goal after the final siren - will be another valuable source of learning.

"Our last loss against Richmond was a bit of a kick in the pants and got us to focus on a few things," Hale said on Monday.

"I'm sure after we go through it (the loss to Geelong) today, it'll help us re-set our target and hopefully go through until the end of the year."

A good part of the Monday afternoon review was sure to focus on the frantic dying stages, when the Hawks missed opportunities to bottle the ball up inside their forward line.

"We've got a few inexperienced blokes … [Paul] Puopolo has only played 20 games," Hale said.

"And even 'Sewelly' (Brad Sewell) playing on … it's hard to hear the crowd and the whistle and everything.

"I'm sure there's a few things we'll have a look at that we probably would have done differently if we had a chance."

Despite having now lost night games straight to the Cats, including seven by less than 10 points, Hale dismissed concerns Hawthorn had a psychological problem against the blue and white hoops.

"Once you get out there, it's just another opposition, and you just play to play," the 28-year-old said.

"We had a chance again where we were in front, and things just didn't go our way, I suppose.

"I don't think it's a mental thing.

"Hopefully next time we'll be far enough in front that it won't matter."

Hale rated forward Lance Franklin, who has missed four games with a hamstring injury, as "likely, hopefully" to come in to face Port Adelaide on Sunday.

"He's been running the past couple of weeks, so I'm sure he'll put his hand up this week," Hale said.

"The coaching staff and the medical staff will make a decision later in the week."