PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he is pleased his side maintained belief in its aggressive brand of football despite a difficult two weeks, after the Power stunned the Eagles with an electrifying display on Friday night.

The Power’s 2-0 start to the season was followed by disappointing losses to Brisbane and Richmond, but Hinkley’s side proved it is a potential force in 2019 after a 42-point blitz of the reigning premiers on their home deck.

Port Adelaide has made no secret of its desire to play a quicker, more attacking brand of football this year, and Hinkley said he had spoken with his players about having the courage to play the game on their terms even when things got tough.

“There was some questions about how we’d lost the last couple of games, but we needed to continue to … fertilise that courage and belief that the way we’re playing is the right way to play,” Hinkley said.

“We wanted to be able to play a more aggressive, bolder brand of football.

“And we just played a really balanced game of footy tonight, with complete buy-in which was really important.”

Port Adelaide dominated the inside 50 count 71-38, denying West Coast’s potent forward line from taking control of the game.

The Power also dominated the clearances 50-33, led by Ollie Wines with 35 touches and a goal.

Hinkley lauded his team’s six-goal-to-one second term that set up an imposing 49-point half-time lead.

Port Adelaide has suffered two heartbreaking after-the-siren losses to the Eagles in recent times, which made the substantial half-time buffer all the more vital.

“It was really important to make West Coast go into half-time feeling like it was a significant margin, because I don’t want to bring up the past, but they’ve been able to get us a few times when it has been close,” he said.

The Power’s star young brigade again impressed on Friday night, with Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma all showing why they were taken in the top 20 on draft night.

Hinkley said it was remarkable how well they had settled into the team so early on.

“That’s one part that’s hard not to get carried away from … how well they’ve joined in with the group and the group have joined in with them,” he said.

“I’d say it’s a massively big tick for the connection of the group, the way they’ve quickly come together.”

Hinkley added that the Power were all clear on the injury front, despite Rozee having his knee strapped during the game and Sam Powell-Pepper having ice applied to his left calf in the final quarter.