"I think the main thing out of Friday night (was) the Bulldogs just really pressured them all over the ground," Bateman said.
It sounds simple enough, but Bateman conceded that it might be tougher than it sounds.
"Geelong has been a great side for 18 to 24 months; probably the benchmark as a side," he said.
"We'll have to be right on our game pressure-wise to give ourselves the best opportunity of winning."
Bateman also debunked the theory that the Cats were flat and possibly on the slide after their 29-point victory.
"I don't think you can take away from the effort the Bulldogs put in; they played pretty well," Bateman said.
"I thought the Bulldogs were really good with their pressure."
Bateman said he had recovered quickly from an ankle injury sustained at training last week and was buzzing after the big win over St Kilda.
"It is really exciting and is new for everyone except 'Dewy' (Port Adelaide premiership player Stuart Dew)," Bateman said.
"'Dewy' has been great all year, and we expect him to be great this week. We'll just take it all in and enjoy it."
Bateman also reinforced a common feeling among Hawthorn players; that the Cats might have been lucky to win the last time the teams met in round 17.
"I thought we had our opportunities - we hit the lead in the last quarter," Bateman said.
"Another couple of straight kicks and we might have had the opportunity to win the game.
"It was a close, physical encounter, and I expect pretty much the same thing this week."
Bateman denied that nervousness in front of goals had been the reason for several easy misses in that game, which Geelong won by 11 points.
"There were a couple of [missed] set shots, but I don't think it was nerves," Bateman said.
"I still get nervous before games, and I think that shows that you still get passionate and want to play a role and do your bit for the team.
"While I am a bit nervous before games, I feel good and switched on and ready to play."
