The Magpies went down to bottom-ranked Glenelg by a shock 32 points after being comprehensively outplayed at Brighton Road.
The loss didn't prevent Port Adelaide from clinching the minor premiership, a double chance and the rest in the first week of finals, but Hocking wants to see his side bounce back in the second semi final against the winner of Norwood and Sturt.
"It's disappointing because you don't want to lose the last game of the season and going into a finals campaign," Hocking told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"Our skills weren't that great today and we just couldn't handle the heat.
"But I'm absolutely confident that we can turn it around because we've done a lot of things right.
"This group responds pretty quickly and gets back on the horse so we'll make sure that happens.
"We weren't good enough [against Glenelg], but we'll lick our wounds and look forward to the challenge in the finals."
Hocking says his side deserved top spot after a season of sustained hard work and would ensure the Magpies enter the second week of finals fully prepared to challenge for the club's first silverware since 1999.
He also called on the Port Adelaide faithful to get behind the club when its dons its famous black-and-white guernsey in a major round for the first time at the Adelaide Oval since 2008.
"The boys have worked really hard all year and we are excited to be in the finals fighting to clinch our first premiership since 1999," Hocking said.
"2008 was our last finals appearance and 1999 was our last grand final so we are really excited to be in there and amongst it, and securing top spot gives us a break that leaves us in the best position to have a crack at it.
"Our supporters want us to fight right to the end and we will.
"I know all the Norwood and Sturt fans will turn out and we just need all the Black and White fans getting there too and cheering us home."
Port Adelaide plays the winner of the Qualifying Final between Norwood and Sturt in the second semi final on the weekend of 5-7 September.
