DESPITE the hype, ladder-leader Port Adelaide is not the new benchmark of the AFL, says Power ruckman Matthew Lobbe.
Lobbe is adamant Hawthorn is still the competition benchmark and has cautioned his teammates against getting carried away with a stunning start to the season.
"It's only round six," Lobbe told reporters on Monday.
"We're excited with what we have done so far. But we can only look at it being round six and the improvement we have got to do.
"It's such a tough competition at the moment, you have got to still focus week to week - it's a cliche, but that is all we can do at the moment.
"If we want to be a great side like Geelong has been for so many years, we have got to be consistent every week."
The Power claimed top spot after a 40-point belting of Geelong on Sunday night, which Lobbe said offered Port immense self-belief.
"The belief in the group is really strong at the moment," he said.
"But more importantly than that, we're going to stay hungry and we're going to stay desperate every week."
Never one to pump up his own tyres, Lobbe credited his superb form to the midfield he supplies.
Led by captain Travis Boak and also featuring Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Ollie Wines, Kane Cornes and Jared Polec, the Power's midfield is fast developing into one of the most damaging in the AFL.
Indeed, Cats coach Chris Scott described it as the best his side had come up against in 2014.
The Power is ranked second in the League, behind the Cats, for marks inside 50 and inside 50s – not only highlighting the club's dangerous forward line but also the quality of forward 50 entries it has benefitted from.
Lobbe has also begun the season in outstanding fashion, performing well in the ruck but managing to work his way around the ground to provide attacking and defensive options.
His 32-hit-out, two-goal outing against the Cats was his best this year but the 25-year-old was quick to pass the praise to his midfield teammates.
"I'm just excited to be out there in such a great team – when the team's playing so well it makes all the individuals look that little bit better," Lobbe said.
"'Jacko's' (defender Jackson Trengove) been able to come in and play a really important role in the ruck … and having that midfield around me makes you look that much better as a ruckman.
"What 'Walshy' (assistant coach Phil Walsh) has been able to bring to the group in terms of our contested footy around stoppage and the different strategies we can go to, it really adds a level of class to the midfield."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
