SAM MITCHELL is determined to deny the Cats their cream, as well as having his cake and eating it too this Easter Monday.
Hawthorn made a fuss of the coach before Tuesday training with key forward Mabior Chol presenting a cake to mark Mitchell's 100-game AFL milestone.
But a much more significant statistic is its inability to beat Geelong.
The Hawks have won only two of their past 10 games against the Cats and take a five-game losing streak against them into the annual Easter Monday blockbuster at the MCG.
Mitchell noted Hawthorn had lost all four games last year against the two Grand Finalists, Geelong and Brisbane.
"They've been too good for us, so we need to continue to improve our game to make sure we can beat the best sides - and they're one," Mitchell said.
"Being able to stack up against the best sides is something we're really quite focused on.
"We haven't proven yet to be a side that can consistently beat the top sides.
"They (Geelong) have been annoyingly good for a long time. We'll try and do our part for the rest of the competition and take them down on Monday."
Mitchell also noted he has a 49-50 win-loss record - one off 50 per cent.
Since taking over in difficult circumstances, after the Hawks botched the succession plan from four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, he has overseen steady improvement.
"There's a part of me that thinks four years ago was 20 years ago ... for what we've done," he said.
"But then there's an equal part of me that feels like it was yesterday.
"There's a level of 'we're on the right track, but not there yet' about it."
One of Mitchell's first tasks four years ago was overseeing a strategic plan that focused first on getting games into future premiership players.
It was a thorough exercise that is bearing fruit, with Hawthorn making the last two finals series.
"I say to the players fairly regularly work works and that would be an example, the amount of work we put in strategically," he said.
"That has held us in pretty good stead and given us a bit of a shining light for how we're trying to achieve what we want as a football club."
It also has meant more primetime games, meaning Mitchell is unfazed that they will play Geelong on the back of an 18-day break.
"It would be a bit biting the hands that feeds me to say 'hey, thanks for the great fixtures, but they're a bit far apart'," he said.
Mitchell backed their fitness guru Peter Burge to make sure the Hawks are ready this Monday, also noting they received a sharp reminder about preparation in their season-opening loss to Greater Western Sydney.
"We don't have to look too far back to know that you can get a pretty big shock if you're not ready," he said.
