After an undefeated opening five rounds to season 2013, the Power surrendered their promising start by losing the next five rounds to sit 11th.
At 5-1, Port now sits above Hawthorn and the Cats on percentage and Hinkley said his side's newest test was to prove it was worthy of filling such a position by defending it.
"People want to mark us on 'our start to the season has been really strong’ … and it has us up the top, so it puts us in a good position," Hinkley said.
"But we have to defend that now.
"Great sides like Geelong and Hawthorn do it all year, we've still got to do that and that's what we're setting out on next week [against Greater Western Sydney]."
Until half-time Sunday night's game followed a near identical story line to last year's second semi-final between the sides.
On that evening the Cats were able to overcome an inaccurate second term and half-time deficit to record victory and progress through to the preliminary final.
This time around Geelong again failed to capitalise on opportunity in the second quarter, kicking 0.5 and again it entered the main break in arrears (18 points).
But the match took a different route on Sunday when no comeback came and the Power booted five goals to two in the premiership quarter.
Hinkley suggested the difference between the two performances, as well as the side's development, was the 47,007-strong crowd.
"It's massive, I don't care what anyone says; the crowd is still an important factor in the game," he said.
"People say I'm being a bit silly and the crowd has nothing to do with it. I think from a playing point of view – it's been a long time ago for me – but they must feed off that energy."
Skipper Travis Boak, who was awarded the game's Peter Badcoe VC Medal for his starring 32-possession, two-goal game agreed, adding his job as captain was made easy by the club's other leaders.
Vice-captain Brad Ebert was again sublime with 28 possessions and five tackles, ruckman Matthew Lobbe was a huge asset with 32 hit-outs and 13 possessions while Tom Jonas' tackling pressure was just plain scary.
Rather than feeling like he had to lift the side when needed, Boak said the entire leadership group did so automatically.
"It doesn't feel like I have to do too much, we all do our little bit as a leadership group and that's the beauty – we just have to stand up when it counts and that's what the group's done," Boak said.
"The guys are just so driven, they know exactly what Ken wants … that makes my job so much easier as captain."
