MIDFIELDER Chance Bateman says Hawthorn's 19-point loss to Geelong at the MCG on Tuesday was a "reality check" for his much-hyped side.

Both teams had been touted as challengers to reigning premier Collingwood leading into yesterday's clash, but Bateman says the result showed the Hawks are not yet playing good enough football to be compared with the competition's leaders.

"I think it showed we're still a little way off Geelong and Collingwood and a few other sides," Bateman said on Wednesday morning.

"There's still a lot of work to do before we can seriously challenge those sides."

The 29 year-old said the Hawks need to focus on conceding fewer goals, but the blame for Geelong's high score yesterday doesn't rest with his team's defenders.

The Cats' tally of 17 majors was their equal-highest of the season so far, with creative defenders such as Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor continually launching attacks from Geelong's back half.

"All over the ground we need to help stop sides from scoring 17 goals," Bateman said.

"If we're not putting enough pressure on in the forward line, they can run it out pretty easily.

"Once Geelong get their game going, they transition the ball pretty well, so it's a full team defence - forward, midfield and back."

Bateman is hopeful teammate Cyril Rioli's hamstring injury is not too serious, saying the livewire forward was walking without pain after the game.

Rioli left the field early in the last quarter and had his right hamstring on ice as the Cats kicked away in the closing stages.

"I haven't seen [Rioli] yet," Bateman said.

"He left the ground in pretty good spirits though.

"He said that he was walking without feeling it at all, so we'll just wait until we gets the scans and then we'll have a bit more information and know what the plan is from there."