Fresh from an emotional comeback win in last week's Showdown against Adelaide, the Power successfully negotiated the favourite's tag to easily dispose of Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The win was their fourth straight under Hinkley's reign and has them sitting pretty alongside Essendon at the top of the competition.
It was a contrasting performance to the one against the Crows – blowing the game open in the second quarter – and one Hinkley said showed a sign of maturity.
Port Adelaide has now taken care of both expansion teams (GWS in round two) in emphatic fashion in the first month of the season.
"We don't want to shy away from the fact that expectation was we'd probably come up here and win the game," Hinkley said.
"We knew how much of a challenge the trip was going to be. It's a hard game, AFL. Just because it looks like you should win, then you have to go out and deliver.
"We were pleased we were able to get the result that we should have."
Port Adelaide has the third youngest list in the league (after GWS and Gold Coast), but its young leaders stood head and shoulders above the Suns' on Saturday night.
Hamish Hartlett was superb in his 50th game, while captain Travis Boak flourished as the match progressed and Justin Westhoff continued his hot start to the season.
As he has for much of the first month, Hinkley said the groundwork for Port Adelaide's early success could be traced to the pre-season.
He said hard work led to confidence and confidence led to performance.
"By putting little things together you get confidence from it. In AFL football once you get confidence it's a good thing to have, but it can disappear," he said.
"You've just got to keep working hard. As a club we understand that.
"We talk about behaviour all the time at the club. Our behaviours will always give us outcomes.
"We know we've got a long way to go."
Hinkley said switching Dom Cassisi to run-with Gary Ablett was a "significant" move after the Suns skipper torched Kane Cornes with a 15-disposal first term.
The Power hosts West Coast in round five.
