Hawthorn captain James Sicily has defended his behaviour following a heated exchange with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley in the wake of Friday night's AFL semifinal.

Hinkley taunted the Hawks players on the field after the Power's tense 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) win at Adelaide Oval.

He later revealed his antics were motivated by a comment Hawks forward Jack Ginnivan made on social media in the build-up to the match.

Sicily fired back at Hinkley, with Hawks teammate Jarman Impey having the unenviable task of stopping the situation from escalating.

The AFL confirmed it had issued a "please explain" to Hinkley.

Sicily said his actions in standing up for Ginnivan were justified.

"I can't recall exactly what was said. He (Hinkley) was talking to our players and said something to Ginni," Sicily told reporters in Adelaide on Saturday morning.

"I think what I do as a leader is I always have my teammates' back and I will stick up for them regardless of who is in the right or the wrong.

"It is something I pride myself on and I don't regret it one bit really."

Sicily added: "Jack openly admitted during the week to the leaders that he really wished he didn't do it.

"It was cheeky. I don't think the game was lost or won on motivation because of it. It wasn't necessarily a direct attack at Ken [or] Port Adelaide."

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson acknowledged the AFL had asked for "extra details" regarding the incident.

But Richardson backed Hinkley, describing his behaviour as a "symptom of … emotion and pressure".

"Ken made a comment in response to a social media post during the week. Ken, himself, straight after the game recognised that he probably stepped over the line with that," Richardson said on Saturday.

"He cares deeply about his players. He cares deeply about the footy club. Sometimes that emotion comes out. That's one of the things we love about Ken."

Speaking to the media on Friday night, Hinkley explained the Power had been riled during the week by Ginnivan.

Ginnivan had posted on Instagram "see u in 14 days" to Sydney ruckman and former Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy.

The comment insinuated Ginnivan expected the Hawks would beat the Power and play the Swans in the preliminary finals.

"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.

"There was stuff said last week that I certainly didn't enjoy, but I shouldn't have let that moment get to me.

What was done during the week was done, and I responded in an emotional state, which I shouldn't have.

"I regret the comment. I should stay out of that comment, but I didn't.

"It just goes to show that everyone can get better, and I'm still trying to get better."

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said he backed Sicily's defence of Ginnivan.

"We had a very young player (Ginnivan) who had some aggressive words said to him by a much older man who has been in the game for a long time," Mitchell said.

"And I am really proud of our captain, who would have been just as emotional [as Hinkley], was able to stand up and lead in a way that he could be proud of."

Asked if he would speak with Hinkley, Mitchell replied: "Absolutely not."

Sicily said he regretted the incident overshadowed the acknowledgement of three-time Hawks premiership player Luke Breust's 300th AFL match.

Breust was chaired off the field by teammates, with the Power players and Hinkley clapping the Hawks veteran as they formed a guard of honour.

"That's probably the only thing I am disappointed in, that I wasn't fully present in that moment," Sicily said.

"But it's not the first time that Ken has done that and it won't be the last. It's an emotional game and sometimes it gets the better of us.

"I think those things are better done behind closed doors, particularly when there was a moment to celebrate Punk (Breust).

"Instead, there was gloss taken off it a little bit."

The Power will play the Swans in their preliminary final at the SCG on Friday night.

ABC/AAP