Hawks maturing nicely: Campbell

Hawthorn's stunning come-from-behind win against Port Adelaide at Aurora Stadium on Saturday is a sign of the team's growing maturity, according to ruckman Robert Campbell.

The Hawks trailed by 38 points early in the second term before piling on nine goals to four after half-time to run out 15-point winners.

Campbell, who helped lead the revival with a dominating display in the centre, said the Hawks of previous years would have capitulated when down by more than six goals and lost by an even greater margin.

"We could have probably turned our toes up and gone the other way but it's a great sign that we're maturing and coming along nicely," said Campbell, who turns 26 next month.

Campbell and the under-rated Simon Taylor were instrumental in giving their midfielders first use of the ball, especially in the second half as the Hawks overcame their sluggish start.

Campbell said he and Taylor had set themselves for this game, and in particular what he rates as the No.1 ruck pair in the competition - Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade.

"We rate them very highly," Campbell said. "We set ourselves for this game, we've been coming up against some good pairs but these guys are obviously the top. We started a bit slowly, but we worked into it well."