A string of narrow losses are hurting Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide finals hopes

COME September all that matters in wins and losses but the Crows and Power are being hurt by an inability to snatch the close ones.

“MY theory is that if you split small wins and losses, then it might be luck. When you lose consistently, then it’s deeper.’’

That’s Carlton coach Mick Malthouse’s verdict on the results which often define seasons — the close ones.

Fourteen of the 18 clubs have this season been involved in four or more games decided by

12 points or fewer.

The cream has risen to the top, with perennial powerhouse Geelong and premier Hawthorn boasting 100 per cent winning records.

The Cats, who have again defied the critics to be sitting second after round 21, have amazingly won all seven of their close games, including two against the Blues.

The Hawks have won all four matches they have had decided by two goals or less.

The other two flag favourites — Sydney and Fremantle — have 66.7 per cent winning records in such games.

SA’s AFL clubs — Adelaide and Port Adelaide — are at the other end of the spectrum.

And it has cost them, particularly the Crows, dearly.

Adelaide, tellingly, has won just one of its six close matches.

Its winning percentage of 16.7 per cent in matches decided by 12 points or fewer is the worst in the competition.

The Crows — sitting eighth with a 10-10 record and locked in a furious battle for a finals spot — came from behind to beat the Western Bulldogs by nine points in round six.

But they have lost their past five games which have still been up for grabs in the final few minutes, being beaten by Melbourne (three points), Carlton (five), Essendon (nine), Hawthorn (12) and Richmond (10).

Coach Brenton Sanderson was quick to point out the statistic after his side coughed up a late lead against the Tigers at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

“That’s the fifth game this year we’ve lost by two goals,’’ he said, noting that turning just one or two of those games into wins would already have secured a finals spot for his club.

Travis Boak contemplates another narrow defeat. Picture: Sarah Reed.

But while there is always some luck involved in close results, Sanderson took the Malthouse view, saying “we need to get better at those close ones’’.

“We need to have the ability to be calm, be poised, get a few mark chains and just kill the game once you hit the front,’’ Sanderson said.

“But we (against Richmond) became a bit rushed, it felt, when we did hit the front. We have to still keep teaching those moments in games when you hit the front, close games, you go on with it.’’

The Power also has struggled to seal the deal this year.

Of the top seven clubs on the premiership ladder, none has a worst record in close matches than Port.

Ken Hinkley’s outfit is 2-4, having beaten Melbourne (three points) and Gold Coast (nine) and lost to North Melbourne (seven), Sydney (four), Essendon (two) and Collingwood (six).

“You are always mindful about losing margins and talking about them because it sounds like an excuse but we have lost four close games this year (and won two),’’ Hinkley said.

“Last year we won five (and lost three), so it is a really small margin you are dealing with. The key is to make the crucial moments count in games.’’

Hinkley would fancy his team’s chances in a close finish against Carlton at Adelaide Oval tonight.

The Blues have lost a league-high six of the eight matches they have had decided by two goals or less, including a heartbreaking defeat to Geelong last week courtesy of a controversial late free kick to Allen Christensen.

Last year the Blues lost seven games by 17 points or fewer.

But Malthouse says bad football, rather than bad luck, is the key reason behind his team’s knack for losing close games.

‘(We must) find out exactly why we get close and don’t get over the line,’’ he said.