CYRIL Rioli may have had only 13 disposals in Hawthorn's 46-point win over Port Adelaide on Sunday, but his efforts when the Hawks didn't have the ball made his performance one of his best this season.

The 22-year-old had career-highs in tackles (14) and pressure acts (33), as he and fellow small forwards Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo created nightmares for the Power's rebounding defenders.

Midfielder Sam Mitchell said Rioli's ability to impact games defensively often didn't get the recognition it deserved.

"A lot of the games he plays, he might only get 12 or 14 touches, but he has the 30 pressure acts, which we rate really highly internally," Mitchell said on Monday.

"He has a lot of games where he puts a heap of pressure on.

"He's like having an extra defender on the field when they've got the ball in their back half, so he's a hugely valued player in our footy club."

Rioli's tackle count was the second highest for a game this season, behind only Brisbane Lion Jack Redden's 15 against West Coast in round 10.

It was five short of Jude Bolton's all-time record of 19 tackles, set in round three, 2011.

The 33 pressure acts ranked Rioli equal-eighth this season, with Joel Corey's 39 for Geelong against North Melbourne in round three the pacesetter.

Essendon captain Jobe Watson and first-year Gold Coast player Kyal Horsley have both had 38 pressure act matches in 2012.

Champion Data defines a pressure act as a player putting pressure on the ball carrier, either physically or by corraling, chasing from behind or closing from in front.

Rioli had 22 physical pressure acts, including his 14 tackles.

Mitchell said the combination of Rioli, Breust and Puopolo was a crucial element of Hawthorn's game-plan.

"Every team talks about forward pressure," he said.

"We've got a lot of tall targets down there that we're kicking it to, and when those three (Rioli, Breust and Puopolo) are able to put forward pressure on and lock it into our front half, that's when we're at our most dangerous."

Statistics supplied by Champion Data.

Mark Macgugan covers Hawks news for AFL.com.au and hawthornfc.com.au. Twitter: @AFL_MarkM.