THEY’RE the fast finishers, feared as the AFL's fittest.

But vice-captain Brad Ebert says Port Adelaide's remarkable record late in games comes from the mind as much as the body.

Port enhanced its status as last-quarter specialists in its semi-final upset against Fremantle last Saturday.

The Power kicked six goals to three in the final term - the 17th time in 24 matches this season they have won a last quarter, a competition benchmark.

Fellow preliminary finalists North Melbourne (16), the Sydney Swans (15) and Hawthorn (15) also feature high on a last-quarter winning list which Ebert says can't just be down to superior fitness.

"We are a fit side but every team in the competition is a fit side as well," Ebert said on Monday.


Port's away victory against Fremantle 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 increases in each quarter - they have kicked 80 goals in first quarters this season, rising to 97 goals in last terms.

So it's mental more than purely physical?

"It does come down to that," Ebert said.

"And 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 strong."

POWER SURGES - Port's scoring trends this year:
First quarters: Port 80 goals 71 behinds, opponents 58.76
Second quarters: Port 80.83, opponents 73.59
Third quarters: Port 92.80, opponents 64.61
Fourth quarters: Port 97.89, opponents 70.50

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