Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir has earned further praise from his coach after going toe-to-toe with dual Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow on Friday night.
Often utilised as an intercept option rather than the go-to stopper for the opposition's best key forward, Aliir was handed the task of taming Curnow in the blockbuster affair.
The Blues spearhead had the upper hand early, kicking the first major of the night as he proved to be an ongoing aerial threat in the front half.
As the game went on, Aliir continued to adapt to the matchup and was able to quell Carlton's access inside their forward 50 alongside teammate Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.
The duo combined for 19 intercept possessions on the night, and while some may view Aliir's early efforts as a "down" performance, Hinkley said it's hard to have an up one when standing next to Curnow.
With Aliir muscling the matchup back into his side's favour, Hinkley lauded the ex-Swan's run of form as the Power rose to third on the ladder.
"I'm not sure you can call it 'down' (when) playing on Charlie Curnow. He had one goal kicked on him and a couple of free kicks that Charlie got," Hinkley said.
"Curnow is a freak and Aliir did a great job. He's been in really good form, as good as any key back in the comp over the last five or six weeks I reckon.
"Him and Zerk-Thatcher were really big in the second half. Aliir has been really big for a good period of time. Sides do put a bit of work into him now.
"He's able to take a contest now, he's able to take the best players in the opposition's team and still go well."
The Port Adelaide coach was rapt with his side's defence on the night, with a handful of smaller-sized players stepping up as tall defender Esava Ratugolea was thrown forward for the match.
With Curnow's partner in crime, Harry McKay, absent through illness, the Power's rearguard was able to take advantage at both ends of the field.
Stalwarts Miles Bergman and Dan Houston rose to the occasion, while it was sixth-gamer and Mid-Season Draft addition Logan Evans who brought much to the table.
"It always helps to have flexibility in your team," Hinkley said.
"Lachie Jones, Miles Bergman, Dan Houston, Logan Evans. Logan Evans was only drafted five-six weeks ago, he's played his fifth or sixth game.
"We've got a bit more mid-sized height, who are all quite athletic which helps us a lot."
The Power will head back to South Australia to prepare for a meeting with premiership favourites Sydney next Saturday.
