Hawthorn’s return to form after what midfield tyro Sam Mitchell labelled a “blatantly uncompetitive” loss to Richmond has coincided with the Hawks rediscovering their harder edge.

A 115-point demolition of North Melbourne in Launceston and Sunday’s comprehensive 46-point triumph away to Port Adelaide have seen the Hawks improve their win-loss record to 7-4.

They have lost rugged onballer Jordan Lewis to a two-week suspension along the way, while spearhead Lance Franklin had a rough conduct charge thrown out by the match review panel on Monday.

And while Mitchell acknowledges the club does not want to see any key personnel sidelined by the match review panel, he has welcomed the return of a tougher edge since they were out-hunted by Richmond and belted by 62 points in round nine.

“We know we have to play a very physical brand of footy to be competitive,” Mitchell said on Tuesday.

“We’re not good enough just to roll up and go and play on the weekend.

“We need to put ourselves in a position where we’re a little bit on edge and we’ve got a bit of fight in us.

“The big challenge for our group is consistency – can we do it week in and week out?”

Skipper Luke Hodge is still a week or two away from a return to action after a knee problem that has dogged him throughout 2012.

And he has again been joined on the injured list by luckless 2008 premiership teammate Xavier Ellis, who strained his medial ligament in a freak accident playing for the Hawks’ VFL affiliate Box Hill last weekend.

Ellis is set to be sidelined for another 6-8 weeks.

“He just can’t take a trick,” said Mitchell.

“He was playing pretty well too and it was just unfortunate.

“Someone was standing on his foot and then fell across his knee so it’s an unavoidable one.”

The sixth-placed Hawks play Brisbane at the MCG on Sunday.