The scoreboard during that period told the tale.
Essendon scored six goals, three behinds to Port Adelaide's doughnuts, stretching the deficit to 33 points.
Port Adelaide managed to fight its way back to within 11 points during the final term but conceded the last three goals of the game to lose by five.
Hinkley could see the warning signs during the first quarter and was not as excited about having a lead at the first break as less engaged supporters might have been.
He told the players he was less than happy with their defensive efforts and thought that perhaps they had dodged a bullet in the first term. But they were hit fair and square between the eyes in the second.
"To Essendon's credit, they just got on top of us at the start of the second quarter and really took [it to] us and made us pay," Hinkley said.
"We didn't get our hands on the footy. Sometimes that is just winning it at the contest and they were very good at winning it in tight."
The Port outfit from the past couple of seasons might have compounded at that point. Not this mob. Under Hinkley, the players keep attacking the contest and fighting for each other. Their execution is not perfect but their effort is admirable.
"This team turn up," Hinkley said. "The fans know they turn up and play every week and they hang tough and they gave themselves a fighting chance right up until the last four or five minutes of that last quarter."
He praised former Bomber Angus Monfries (with four goals) and former Eagle Brad Ebert (now Port Adelaide's vice-captain who had 36 disposals) for their efforts to will their team back into contention.
In the final quarter, Port Adelaide had 20 inside 50s to Essendon's 14 but could not convert its chances, kicking 3.9 (27) to the Bombers' 5.3 (33).
Hinkley said his team allowed Essendon to use the ball uncontested too often early and create run.
They could not quell Essendon's loose defender Cale Hooker – who took 13 marks in a 30-disposal game – which made it tough for them to defend the whole ground.
Once again, the effort was there but the four points went the way it was expected.
"I hate losing and the team hates losing too," Hinkley said. "We're not happy with the loss."
This week the opponent is Hawthorn - just as formidable as the Bombers.
"We're up for the challenge," Hinkley said.
