PORT Adelaide coach Matthew Primus believes his side came under siege from a physical Hawthorn on Sunday evening, saying "they were at us".
The emergency umpire needed to break up spot fires throughout the contest with Power pair Hamish Hartlett and Danyle Pearce involved in several scuffles.
"It was an important game for them, 'Clarko' (Alastair Clarkson) said it was a danger game for them, so they were certainly up for the battle," Primus said.
"That is how Hawthorn play - they were at us."
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Emerging star Matthew Broadbent agreed with his coach.
"They certainly came at us a fair bit," Broadbent said.
"You have got to stand up when any team has a crack at you and that is what we want to do as a team."
"I thought the boys stood strong together, you can't ask for much more."
Primus admitted his side was taught a lesson by a "classier" Hawthorn, saying the 46-point margin showed just how far the Power have to improve.
The Hawks managed 11 more scores than the Power and 16 more inside-50s.
"They just outclassed us," Primus said.
"We weren't clean with the ball by hand or foot … [the loss] shows you the level you've got to get to and what we aspire to get to.
"We will learn some great lessons from a very, very good team."
Primus flagged his side's skill level under pressure as the area with the biggest class gap on Sunday; a statement backed up by John McCarthy's 14 ineffective disposals out of 18 in total.
Port Adelaide gifted the Hawks several goals and opportunities via turnovers, but Primus said there was no miracle technique to improve the Power's skill level.
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"[Hawthorn's] kicking efficiency was something like 72, 73, 74 per cent and ours was just below the AFL average of what it's been this year," he said.
"It's just a matter of working on it and dealing with, when you're under pressure, this is how you have to execute your skills by foot or hand."
After three consecutive wins, Broadbent said the convincing loss was a "reality check".
The winning streak equalled the Power's best run of form for more than a season, but the emerging star said Port had been humbled by the Hawks.
"It probably brings you back to earth a little bit … we learned a good few lessons tonight," Broadbent said.
"We've been playing some pretty good footy the last couple of weeks and it's a bit of a reality check of where we are and where we need to get to."
Regardless of the loss, Primus maintained his side was on the up.
"We'll keep developing and keep exposing [young players] and keep demanding that they play at a pretty high level," Primus said.
"We've all seen what level they've been able to play at.
"Hawthorn have taken four or five years to get to the premiership side they did and have remained at a pretty good level since then … we're building towards it and we'll get there as quick as we can."
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
