Lack of consistency had been a persistent bugbear for the Power in 2012, even from quarter to quarter, but under Hinkley they've competed well in each game and defeated two of this year's premiership favourites in West Coast and the Sydney Swans along the way.
Defender Jackson Trengove described Hinkley as a "ruthless" coach and said his straightforward approach made it easy for players to understand what was expected of them.
Trengove doesn’t think that the side has nailed Hinkley's game plan just yet, but they are getting closer and the early results are encouraging.
"I think we're starting to get into our game. Kenny's very black and white in what he wants from us and what he expects from us," Trengove said on Monday.
"We've got a long way to go in what he actually wants us to do… but I think we're taking steps in the right direction to the way Kenny wants us to play our footy.
"It's a totally different system to what we had, I mean Kenny's come in and brought his own thing. It wasn't working what we were doing in previous years, that's why [Primus'] sacking happened.
"At the moment it's winning."
The Power stunned the reigning premiers last Saturday by limiting its famous rebound attack and out-competing the Swans around the ground to run away 30-point victors.
Trengove was confident the Power had already improved on the football they were playing last year but was also quick to discount the value of pre-season success.
"We respect [the Swans] as one of the best sides, if not the best side, whether they've got a couple out or they're full strength," he said.
"They had a very good side in which is good for us to be able to perform pretty well against, but as I said it's only NAB Cup and we've got to be able to take that form into the season.
"That's our main focus now. We've flicked off on the job we had to do with the NAB Cup and we've prepared really well.
“Burgo (Darren Burgess) and Kenny have got us in really good form and good fitness."
The 22-year-old defender also described the return of Robbie Gray to competitive football as a confidence booster for the club ahead of its round one clash with Melbourne on March 31.
Trengove said about 20 teammates watched Gray play the second half of West Adelaide's trial match last Saturday night.
Gray will likely increase his game time to three quarters on Thursday night, playing for the Port Adelaide Magpies' reserves, as West Adelaide doesn't have a trial scheduled.
He'll be joined by Dom Cassisi who is returning from a calf injury.
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
