Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley admits he shouldn't have been drawn into a verbal post-match altercation with Hawthorn players on Friday night, conceding he had responded emotionally to opposition comments during the build-up to a thrilling semi-final.

Hinkley approached Hawks forward Jack Ginnivan after the three-point win and was then involved in a tense exchange with opposition captain James Sicily that continued as the teams lined up for Luke Breust's guard of honour.   

The coach had taken issue with Ginnivan's social media comment to former teammate Brodie Grundy during the week, which suggested the Hawks would see Sydney in a preliminary final.

His comments towards the former Magpie drew the ire of Sicily and the Hawks, with counterpart Sam Mitchell choosing his words carefully post-match while defending his captain's involvement.

"There was an incident after the game where I had some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn't had in a moment that I shouldn't have had," Hinkley said.

"It was an emotional game, a big result, and there was stuff said during last week that I certainly didn't enjoy, but I shouldn't have let that moment get to me.

"I've now made it known to them through this that I shouldn't have approached the moment that I did, but what was done during the week was done and I responded to it in an emotional state, which shouldn't be the case."

Asked if he had used Ginnivan's social media comment as motivation for his team, Hinkley said: "A fair bit. A fait bit. And that's probably why it got to the point it did. We as a footy club found it a little bit disrespectful and that's why it gets to where it gets."

Mitchell said he would "absolutely not" seek out his opposition coach to address the post-match exchange, while Hinkley said he had made it known through his press conference that he regretted the moment.

"I can only speak on my club’s behalf and think about how my club, the Hawthorn Football Club, dealt with the post-game. We had a very young player who had some really aggressive words said to him by a much older man, who has been in the game for a long time. The captain of my club stood up for him," Mitchell said.

"It is really tough to sit here right now, getting pressure from the AFL to make sure you’re in the press conference on time.

"I understand the emotions of this time of year. It is really, really difficult. I’m proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional. He was able to stand up and lead in a way that he can be proud of."

Hinkley's exchange came after a thrilling semi-final that came down to the wire, with The Power progressing to their fourth preliminary final under Hinkley, against Sydney next Friday night at the SCG.

"It was certainly a really big win for us this year, and we’ve been through a lot. To do what we were able to do tonight was a great performance," Hinkley said.

"I think we prepared really well for the game. We knew what we had to take away from Hawthorn and I thought we did that really, really well, and we had to stick really strongly to that plan."

The coach paid tribute to wingman Jase Burgoyne, who moved to half-back out of necessity and was among the game's best players in a Power backline that stood tall.

Young star Jason Horne-Francis was helped from the ground late with trainers after spending the fourth quarter as a deep forward, but Hinkley said it was a case of cramp and the midfield jet would be available against the Swans.

The coach was hopeful key forward Charlie Dixon would be cleared for the preliminary final after battling illness in the build-up to Friday night's match and being withdrawn late.

Half-back Kane Farrell appears a long shot, with Hinkley reluctant to take any sort of risk in a massive final as the important defender races the clock to recover from a hamstring injury.

On the pressure he had faced himself this week, with speculation he would part with the Power if the club exited finals in straight sets, Hinkley said he was confident the storyline had not distracted the players.

"It's part of the territory that goes with it, and I understand the language around it, because I have been around for a long time," he said.

"It's just a bit more matter of fact around what footy is sometimes.

"This club is known for its fight and its willingness to keep having a crack, and I thought they did that really well.

"I thought the whole club and the whole footy department was really in tune with what we needed to do, and we were going to give ourselves a great chance."

Port Adelaide's Winning Formula: Pressure, Youth and a Relentless Commitment

Port Adelaide's win over Hawthorn was built on a foundation of relentless pressure and a commitment to the contest that saw their midfield stars shine alongside emerging young guns. The Power dominated the early stoppages, laying a flurry of crunching tackles, and immediately put the Hawks on the back foot. Their captain, Connor Rozee, set the tone early, combining with Willie Rioli to win a holding the ball free kick and kick the opening goal. The Power tall forwards also looked threatening after a recent poor patch, and Rioli was involved again to set up Todd Marshall for the team's second goal. Port went to the first break with a 13-point lead after holding Hawthorn to its lowest first quarter score since round two.

The Power's dominance continued into the second quarter, with Mitch Georgiades adding to their lead with a goal. However, Hawthorn eventually found their rhythm, benefitting from dubious dangerous tackle decisions that saw them cut the margin to four points. The Power steadied to see out an exhilarating half with a nine-point buffer after Rioli kicked a goal out of mid-air with one second on the clock.

The third quarter belonged to the Hawks, with young sensation Nick Watson kicking back-to-back goals to give them their first lead for the game. Luke Breust enjoyed his moment late in the quarter when he converted a set shot in his milestone game, cutting the margin to five points and setting up a thrilling final term.

The final quarter was a tense affair with both teams battling for every point. Port Adelaide's pressure, which had been a hallmark of their game throughout the match, continued to be a major factor, while the Hawks rue late misses as they charged for a comeback. In the end, Burgoyne and Horne-Francis kicked crucial goals to hold off the Hawks' momentum, with Georgiades adding a clutch set shot to secure the victory.

Port Adelaide's Win: A Story of Resilience and a Fourth Preliminary Final

Port Adelaide's victory was a testament to the team's resilience and their ability to rise to the occasion in a high-pressure situation. After a heavy defeat in the previous week, they responded with a performance that was both physically and mentally demanding. The win sends the Power into their fourth preliminary final under Hinkley, taking them one win away from a first-ever Grand Final under the coach. It also marks their first finals win against the Hawks, following losses in the preliminary final of 2014 and semi-final of 2001, both of which were also decided by three points.

The Power's performance was a collective effort, with several players stepping up to the challenge. Burgoyne was outstanding in a half-back role, while Rioli was electric in the front half. Georgiades kicked a team-high three goals, while Horne-Francis was a constant threat bursting forward from stoppages until cramping in the fourth quarter. Vice-captain Zak Butters delivered in a physical final after being substituted last week with bruised ribs. The Power's win was a victory for their team spirit, their commitment to the game, and their unwavering belief in themselves.