The Hawks fell 33 points behind early in the third quarter before kicking 10 unanswered goals to set up their 16th win of the season and seal a top-three finish.

With Hawthorn likely to meet the Cats again in a qualifying final at the MCG in two weeks, Clarkson said there were things his team needed to work on in round 23 to avoid defeat in their opening final.  

"We certainly won't get away with being that poor in a big game in September," Clarkson said.

"We weren't pleased with the total package we produced tonight (and) we've got a few things we need to work on. 

"We're very pleased with coming from behind, showing some character and digging in when things weren't going our way and finding a way in the second half. 

"(But) I don't think that's going to cut it in September if we produce that sort of effort that we did in the first half."

The Hawks were cut to shreds on the outside in the first half, conceding 88 more uncontested possessions to the Cats and losing the inside 50s 19-28. 

Clarkson said his players didn't have the energy or the run to stop Geelong playing the game it wanted to play. 

"They really hurt us and they maybe should have hurt us a bit more – we were lucky it was only five goals the margin at half time," he said.  

"We appealed to our players and they're a proud group. We just needed to lift our intensity in the tackling area of the game." 

Clarkson described Will Langford's effort in the second half as "pivotal" after he booted two crucial goals in the third quarter and willed the Hawks forward with his efforts in the midfield. 

In his second match back from a four-game suspension, defender Brian Lake was another to earn the coach's praise with a strong performance on Tom Hawkins. 

"I think we're a better defence when he's in it and hopefully he can keep himself out of trouble in the last part of the year," Clarkson said.  

Clarkson said the Hawks would select their best available side to take on Collingwood next Friday night, but added: "if blokes are sore they don't play".

"We're mindful of continuity for our players and playing together," he said. 

"We think that's a good thing, to go into finals with your team reasonably settled and all playing together. 

"Our goal has been to make top four and see where we go from there and I'm really pleased we've been able to put that to bed and secure that with this victory.

"The way we've always done it at Hawthorn is we pick the fittest side we can and we'll be trying to win next week."

Clarkson said forward Jack Gunston suffered a rolled ankle and will be assessed after playing out the match.

Defender Matt Suckling will also need to be assessed after a "pretty minor" knee injury that forced him to be substituted at half-time.