Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has stated he "shouldn't have" been involved in a verbal stoush with Hawthorn players just minutes after the final siren of Friday's semi-final win, with his Hawks counterpart Sam Mitchell expressing his disdain for the Power coach's actions post-game.

Scenes of both groups making their way to the boundary to form a guard of honour for 300-game Hawk Luke Breust caught Hinkley projecting words towards a dejected Hawthorn playing group.

Hawks captain James Sicily looked to confront Hinkley as the two teams lined up to cheer Breust off the field, with teammates having to hold the star defender back.

It was revealed soon after the game that Hinkley had directed his comments to Hawk Jack Ginnivan, who had caused a stir earlier in the week for a comment on social media that read 'See u in 14 days' under a post by Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy.

In his post-game media conference, Hinkley opened proceedings by acknowledging his error in judgment following "an emotional game".

"There was an incident after the game where I had some words with a Hawthorn player that I wish I hadn't had in a moment that I shouldn't have had," Hinkley said.

โ€œIt was an emotional game, a big result, there was stuff said during last week that I certainly didn't enjoy, but I shouldn't have let that moment get to me.

"I shouldn't have approached the moment that I did. What was done during the week was done, and I responded to it in an emotional state, which shouldn't be the case.

"I regret the comment. It just goes to show everyone can get better."

Hinkley said Ginnivan's social media comment was used "a fair bit" during the week for motivation, with the Power coach and his players finding it "a little bit disrespectful".

"A fair bit, that's probably what got it to the point it did," he added.

"We as a footy club found it a little bit disrespectful. That's why it gets to where it gets.

"We as a footy club just didn't enjoy that comment."

Mitchell was pointed in his response to questions over the post-game incident, defending his players and hitting out at the actions of "a much older man who's been in the game for a long time".

Mitchell, who said he would "absolutely not" look to speak to Hinkley, stated he was proud of his captain's actions.

"I can only speak on my club's behalf. If I think about how the Hawthorn Football Club dealt with the post-game; we had a very young player who was having some very aggressive words said to him by a much older man who's been in the game for a long time," the Hawks coach said.

"The captain of my club stood up for him. It's really tough to sit here right now... I understand the emotions of this time of year are really, really, difficult.

"I'm proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional, who was able to stand up and lead in a way he can be proud of."

The result of Friday's semi-final sees the Power progress to a preliminary final against Sydney next week, while Hawthorn's season comes to a close following an entertaining second half to the year - having started the season 0-5.