Insider: Port Adelaide is the AFL’s final quarter specialist

BRAD Ebert is not sure whether it’s physical or mental, but he’s sure of one thing — Power can overrun any rival in the last quarter.

Danger man Chad Wingard shoots for goal in the final term. Picture: Daniel Wilkins.

BRAD Ebert is not sure whether it’s physical or mental.

But the Port Adelaide vice-captain is certain of one thing — that the Power can overrun any rival in the last quarter of matches.

Port, which lives by coach Ken Hinkley’s “never ever give up’’ mantra, is officially the AFL’s final quarter specialist.

The last term 6.6 to 3.4 mauling of Fremantle at Patersons Stadium which completed the Power’s miraculous semi-final comeback on Saturday was the 17th final quarter won by Hinkley’s outfit in 24 games this year.

No other club has won as many last quarters, with fellow preliminary finalists North Melbourne (16) and Hawthorn and Sydney (15) rounding out the top four finishers.

Port’s late, stunning blitz against the Dockers was the seventh time in the past two seasons it has come from behind at three-quarter time to win.

And the Power’s scoring graph rises in each quarter.

It has kicked 80.71 in first terms this year, 80.83 in second quarters, 92.80 in third stanzas and 97.89 in final quarters.

Most significantly, Port has outscored the opposition by 201 points in last terms, also ranked No. 1 in the competition.

The statistics show the longer the game goes the better the Power gets.

It has outscored rivals by 63 points in the first 10 minutes of final quarters, by 66 points from the 10-to-20-minute mark and 72 points in time-on.

Tomorrow’s preliminary final opponent Hawthorn ranks second, having outscored its rivals by 170 points in the last period of matches.

The cutthroat finals opponents are way ahead of their rivals in terms of finishing power, with the Kangaroos the next-ranked side at +134.

Fremantle — sensationally knocked out of the finals by Port — sits well back in fourth position, with a +98 points differential.

“We are a fit side but every team in the competition is a fit side as well,” Ebert said when asked why the Power has been able to run out matches so well.

“As to whether it’s mental more than purely physical, I’m not sure.

“But it could be that because we have the confidence to know that we’re in a position where if we are close, we feel confident that we can really run out the game strongly.’’

Ebert said Port’s remarkable record in running over the top of teams might have started from Hinkley’s now famous “never ever give up’’ slogan when he made his first big statement after arriving at Alberton at the end of 2012.

“Ever since Kenny has been at the club he’s been really been big on the whole never give in thing and we’ve lived that,’’ Ebert said.

“I guess from the first day he turned up and said this is what we are going to stand for, that we will never give up and that we will always play tough, brave football, then that’s what we’ve really tried to do.’’

The Power has a host of players who rank highly in finishing games, with All-Australians Robbie Gray (27.7 SuperCoach points average in finals terms) and captain Travis Boak (25.5), second-year midfield star Ollie Wines (26.2), key forwards Jay Schulz (24.8) and Justin Westhoff (23.4) and ruckman Matthew Lobbe (23) leading the charge.