PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has slammed his team's effort after its 64-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, saying the Power "caved in" and "crumbled".

Describing it as the most disappointing defeat in his three-year stint in charge of the Power (it was also the second heaviest loss of his tenure), Hinkley didn't mince words as Port’s slim finals hopes were dashed on Saturday.

He likened the Bulldogs' performance to what the Power had done to teams in recent seasons, and said his side had entered the contest clinging to a season that had gone awry. 

Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide

"They're a team who are excited by how they're going, and they know what's probably on the horizon a little bit. And we're a team that was just trying to hang on to our footy season," he said post-match.

"When you play like you're just trying to hang on, eventually you're going to crumble and we crumbled today.

"I thought [we] played like a team today who were more hoping than wanting. If you're going to play hoping, you're going to get in trouble. The Bulldogs really wanted the game today and to their credit they got it."

Port started the season as one of the premiership favourites after their tight preliminary final loss to Hawthorn last year and the off-season addition of star ruckman/forward Paddy Ryder.

But they have never been able to get into top gear, and their loss to the Dogs was the 10^th of a dismal campaign.

Any hope they had of snatching a top-eight spot was lost, and Hinkley said he struggled to give any of his players a pass mark for their performance against the top-four contenders. 

"It's tough to swallow tonight, I must say. Normally I've been very proud of this footy team and this footy club in the time I've been here," Hinkley said.

"Today is one of those days where I don't feel like we've done our football club proud."

Watch Ken Hinkley's full media conference here

He lamented the Power's poor work rate, which was reflected in the statistics. The Bulldogs had 99 more uncontested disposals and 20 more contested disposals than their opponents, and registered 60 inside-50 entries.

"Our work-rate wasn't at AFL level today and I'm really disappointed with that," he said.

Port has struggled with the expectations placed upon it at the start of the year, with Hinkley saying the Power had fallen into "a trap" that faces young and ambitious teams who look on the verge of success.

Port Adelaide faces Greater Western Sydney next Saturday evening at Adelaide Oval, and although their finals chances are now gone, Hinkley expects a significant turnaround. 

"I'm actually looking forward to the next four weeks, to see how tough we really want to be. I think in my short time here, we've been tough on our terms a bit too often I reckon, and not when it's going against us," he said.

"I want to see who wants to stand up when there appears to be little light."