'Pretty obvious': Tensions set to boil over as Power and Hawks resume hostilities

All eyes are on the main event of Gather Round on Sunday night, when Port Adelaide hosts Hawthorn for the first time since last year's fiery semi final.

Power coach Ken Hinkley and Hawthorn captain James Sicily exchanged tense words after the final siren, with Hinkley fined $20,000 by the AFL for the altercation.

News Corp reported in the lead up to the game that Sicily told the Port coach: "You have been a f---ing nowhere club for eight years", during the exchange.

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Speaking to media on Wednesday, Hinkley played the rivalry down, saying he hasn't spoken with anyone at the Hawks.

"I had no need to speak to them, and I'm sure they didn't really want to speak to me," he said.

"I said what I said at the end of last year's game, emotions boiled over. I was disappointed in that in myself, I've said that.

"I've apologised publicly. It's time to move on, for me, and I've got to focus on my performance this week.

"It's building as a healthy rivalry, which is good for the game.

"It seems to be attracting some attention, and it seems to be bringing some energy to Gather Round, which is great."

It has been argued by the likes of Gerard Whateley that the AFL ought to pay back Hinkley's $20,000 fine given the incident has been used to hype up Gather Round.

However, the Power coach deferred that question to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon.

"It's not a spot I need to go into, I don't think," he said.

"I did what I did, and I took the penalty that I was imposed with, and that's for other people to answer. Maybe that's a question for Andrew (Dillon), not for me."

Funnily enough, Whateley himself asked Dillon whether they would return the coach's $20,000 on Wednesday afternoon.

"We can only deal with matters as they arise and deal with them in the moment. I think it wasn't something we want to see and if (the fine) was overs, I think ultimately it's a deterring effect and that's what we want," Dillon told SEN.

"I'd prefer not to be fining anyone, but one of the toughest parts of this role is as the regulator of the competition and there are times when people transgress and there's got to be sanctions for that."

Dillon added that he "doesn't think" the animosity between the two clubs should be a factor in the build-up to Sunday night's game.

However, Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan disagrees, and says he may have a special celebration up his sleeve for the right moment.

"It's pretty obvious why the AFL put it last (in Gather Round), and I'm sure they're going to use the game to promote the game as much as possible, but for us it's just another game," he told Nine's Footy Classified.

"You'll have to wait to see if I kick (a goal), but I'm sure I'm going to have it in the back pocket."