A 45-POINT loss to Hawthorn on Saturday proves how far Port Adelaide has to go before it can truly challenge the best sides in the competition, says Power coach Ken Hinkley.

While the home side managed to out-possess the Hawks, they continually fumbled the ball and made poor decisions that resulted in turnovers.

Hinkley said that was due to Hawthorn's pressure on the ball carrier; his players just couldn't handle it.

"We were put under pressure by a very good side which forced turnovers and they're the hardest to defend when you turn the ball over," Hinkley said.

"Clearly everyone that watched the game would say we over-used the ball – that's the pressure that Hawthorn bring.

"The two sides that I think have put us under that much pressure are Hawthorn and Geelong and they sit one, two on the ladder.

"We know we've got lots of work to do to handle the pressure that those top sides can put on you."

Hinkley was without suspended forward Justin Westhoff for the clash and brought in John Butcher as a replacement.

Butcher was serviceable in just his 16^th AFL game, kicking a goal and taking six marks.

Westhoff sat in the coaching box on Saturday and could have been in no doubt that his hit on Essendon's Cale Hooker last weekend had cost the Power some much needed fire-power.

"It's out of character for 'Westy',what he did, but again it probably helps us because it's part of our learning package – we don't do that, we can't afford to do that.

"Westy knows that, he sat up with us today and I'm sure he appreciated that and that he would be the first player to say that he let the side down."

While Butcher was Westhoff's replacement, Hinkley insisted his ideal forward line featured both talls.

"I think we'd have quite a damaging forward line if we could have Butcher, Westhoff, (Jay) Schulz, (Chad) Wingard, Robbie Gray, Jake Neade and (Angus) Monfries in our forward line.

"[Butcher's] played very little football so that's why Westy's so important to us and when [Butcher's] in the side we can actually allow Westy to play a bit more of a utility role.

"We would like to have both in the side at the right time."

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry