There’s no panic at Port Adelaide about Tom Rockliff’s early-season form or the club’s own effort after their first loss of the season, a 22-point defeat to Essendon.

Rockliff endured another disappointing day in a Power guernsey, gathering just eight touches at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Ken Hinkley says the former Brisbane captain was struggling with a calf injury throughout the afternoon.

“He was sore after the first quarter … he did a manful job for us to hobble around out there as best he could,” he said.

Rockliff’s output has nosedived since moving from the Lions to South Australia.

The midfield ball magnet averaged at least 24 possessions in his past seven seasons in Queensland but he’s had half that in four games for Port.

Hinkley is adamant his high-profile recruit will come good.

“Last week I felt like he was building. This week he’s had a little incident that’s slowed him down,” he said.

“A pretty good player is Tom Rockliff. He hasn’t started off in great form but let him build. He’ll be OK.”

Hinkley said the 28-year-old would be monitored as they prepared for their Saturday clash with Geelong at Adelaide Oval.

After seeing his side discard their unbeaten record for the season, Hinkley summarised the team’s performance in one word: inconsistent.

“We did some nice things at times but we weren’t able to stay in the space of strong, hard footy. That’s why you lose games,” he said.

“Overall (this season) we’ve put ourselves in a spot that we’re reasonably pleased with but there’s been some form in the last two that would suggest we’ve gotta get our eye back on the ball.”

He also took aim at critics who have called for the club to field a young ruckman in the absence of hurt big man Paddy Ryder.

Hinkley has opted to field senior players out of position at ruck contests, including Dougal Howard and Charlie Dixon.

“I should say this really clearly: we haven’t got a ruck ready to play,” he said.

“It’s a ridiculous thing to do from outside to say ‘Pick a young ruckman’ who’s not ready.

“We broke even with clearances and first possessions today. That wasn’t losing us the game.”