The win, which helped the Magpies regain top spot after the Eagles jumped ahead following a win against Norwood on Friday night, proved a brutal slog, as Hocking was left to deal with the first-quarter loss of number one ruckman Brent Renouf and half back Campbell Heath through injury.
Match report: Magpies hold off plucky Roosters
Hocking told portadelaidefc.com.au after the match the message to his charges was simple: he wanted them to snatch back top position with a win.
"It was a good win and it was a gritty win," Hocking said.
'We didn't really get to play the way we would've liked to play, but that was a bit because North Adelaide came at us and we expect that week-to-week.
"It's always going to be difficult to play they way we want to week-in and week-out because we know the opposition study us like we do to them.
"Today was just a hard fought win, considering we lost Renouf and Heath and we had Mason Shaw playing his first game after nine weeks out with an injury.
"But we just came here focused to win the game and get the two points and we just wanted to reclaim top spot and we did that."
Hocking said he was pleased with his side's ability to continue fighting and slowly increase the margin, despite being challenged by the Roosters getting within two goals in the final term.
He admitted that ex-coach Ken McGregor's inside knowledge of the club and some of its players also gave North an edge.
"Our players rallied really hard and fought it out right to the end and that was pleasing," Hocking said.
"Ken knows a lots about our club and he probably knows a bit more about our playing group than any other coach in the league.
"We played them in a trial match before the season started and it was a bit of a heated clash, and both sides were focused and wanted to win again today."
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Hocking acknowledged that his side were now being hunted and opposition teams were starting to close the gap on them.
"Teams have got within four to 10 points with us in games, so we know teams are coming and are studying us a bit harder," Hocking said.
"But it's an opportunity for the other teams to get a lot more work into their guys and it's great for the competition."
