Up against the club's former AFL opposition analyst and defensive coach Brad Gotch, coaching just his seventh League game of SANFL football for the blue and whites, Hocking told portadelaidefc.com.au he made sure his players lifted for the Panthers' challenge.
"Knowing Gotch and knowing that he's been watching us very closely and how well he coaches it probably was our biggest test," Hocking said.
"But pressure builds every week, it builds on the players to perform and us to continue to do the same thing as a group to get them up.
"This game probably had a bit of an edge because Gotch is coaching a really good outfit and he's doing a good job."
While he demanded a four-quarter effort, Hocking was again disappointed to see his players drop away in the second quarter against the Panthers, which closed to within four points at the long break.
But he was proud of his side's consistent second half which saw it kick away to a 10-goal win at the close of play.
"South are a really quality team and very sound defensively," Hocking said.
"They started to win the ball and controlled the ball a bit better in the second quarter - we couldn't get it off them and they scored really easily.
"That wasn't us defending poorly, that was South moving the ball at an AFL level.
"We have been able to finish really well and that's been a strong part of our game to come out and have a really good third quarter and a really consistent final quarter.
"But there are still areas to work on."
Port Adelaide plays North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday 24 May ahead of the league-wide bye due to the VFL v SANFL game in Port Melbourne the week after.
