FRUSTRATED Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is ruing yet another slow start, with the Power's early lapse against Hawthorn proving the key to its 31-point loss at University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday.

Port was sluggish yet again, going scoreless while conceding four goals into the breeze in the first term, before giving up another major early in the second quarter to trail 32-0.

The Power clawed back to within 18 points in the third term but wasn't able to get any closer despite coming home with the breeze, and subsequently surrendered its place in the top eight to the Hawks.

HAWKS RETURN TO FORM Full match coverage and stats

Hinkley's team has won just three of their 10 first quarters this season, being behind at quarter-time in each of their opening three rounds and in each of their past four outings.

"It was really clear early that they were up and about and hunting us a little bit more than we were hunting them back, and that's a poor thing for us because our starts haven't been super for most of the year," Hinkley said after being defeated by the Hawks.

"We just continually have to work at that. We spoke about that as a group of players and coaches that we need to make sure we're better and ready to go right from the very start because that's where games are won and lost, and we've seen that today, because we didn't really make much ground after the first quarter.

"It's certainly a concern for us … If we don't start with good energy and good hunt, we put ourselves in danger."

WATCH Ken Hinkley's full post-match media conference

Another concern for Hinkley was the skill errors that gifted Hawthorn some easy goals.

"We caused ourselves some heartburn, didn't we? We caused ourselves lots of damage on the scoreboard and Hawthorn were good enough to finish it. We gave over turnover goals in their forward 50, which is when you do pay a significant price and we did that that three or four (times), which is a big margin," he said.

Hinkley took some consolation from the efforts of returning pair Robbie Gray and Tom Jonas, both of whom would be "better for the run", and he was also impressed with debutant big man Peter Ladhams and fellow youngster Xavier Duursma.

For the third year running, the Power will play in Shanghai, China, where they will face St Kilda on Sunday, June 2.