ANTICS such as Warren Tredrea bowing to the crowd and Chad Cornes doing a dance after goals don't worry Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams, who believes every side must have a touch of arrogance to win a premiership.

Responding to criticism, mainly from Victoria and in particular Geelong, that his side did not show the Kangaroos enough respect, Williams said he was more worried about the preliminary final crowd doing Mexican waves than he was about his players' antics.

And he said that despite being underdogs in many people's eyes, he would rather have the finals experience of nine players having played in a grand final than nine players being selected as All-Australians.

"I like to think there is a bit of arrogance in our side, yeah. That means you really believe in yourself. There is a fine line as to (whether) you go too far," Williams said.

"Michael Wilson got injured halfway through the second quarter … and when we had kicked six in a row everyone was doing Mexican waves and I sent the runner down (I said), 'Could you stop the crowd doing that stuff'.

"It was a ridiculous message but I always had the fear, if you like, that if someone else gets injured … they could get back into the game.

"I wasn't concerned about what the players were doing, I was actually concerned that they were concentrating on the game.

"If you look at the last quarter, we outscored North and so I was really pleased. At three-quarter-time when I got down there, the leaders of the group, I know Chad (Cornes) especially had a big say in just grabbing everyone together and talking about playing the game out."

Geelong finished the home-and-away season three games clear of Port, having lost only four games for the year, and last week nine of its players were bestowed All-Australian honours.

But Williams said the experience he and his side had of playing in a grand final, their win in 2004, held it in better stead for the match on Saturday.

"I think living the experience is the No.1 thing. Every little experience that we are going to go through, those nine or 10 have actually done, whether it's the motorcade or walking out onto the ground when it's full … the timing of the game, there are so many things that are different," he said.

"I suppose speaking from my point of view I am so much more at ease and comfortable with what's ahead of me rather than diving into the deep blue sea."

Williams said he had probably made up his mind as to who would replace injured defender Michael Wilson, who had surgery on Monday on his ruptured Achilles tendon, but would consult his assistant coaches a final time after training.

Williams made the suggestion that players such as Wilson, who contributed to the side reaching the final but did not actually play on the day, should be awarded a medallion should the side win.

"I'm a true believer in that. It seems ridiculous that someone might turn up on the day and get a medal that hasn't really contributed to the whole year, whereas one might have played almost every game and doesn't get a medal," he said.