PORT ADELAIDE vice-captain Ollie Wines has identified losing the contested possession count and conceding late in quarters as key reasons for his side’s poor recent run of results.

The Power has a slim chance of making the finals heading into the last game of the season against Essendon on Friday night.

It has lost three games in a row, falling from top-four contender to the team most likely to miss the top eight because of percentage.

Wines told Adelaide radio station FIVEaa losing contested possession by an average of 25 in the last month has played a big role in the results.

“Previous to this last six weeks that was what was winning us the game,” he said.

“We were winning that contested possession, we were able to get it out to the runners and go, and for whatever reason over the last four weeks particularly, we haven’t got it done and that’s leading to losing the games.

“That’s not just clearance. That’s around the ground – contested marks, loose ball gets, that outnumber at contests – it’s really cost us.”

The 23-year-old, who signed a four-year contract extension earlier this season, also said his side was coughing up goals late in games and even late in individual quarters.

“That’s been a problem in the last three weeks, against Adelaide, West Coast and Collingwood where we’ve given up goals in red time,” Wines said.

“We’ve got to understand when it’s say two or three minutes to go and just control the ball, don’t take any risks.

“Even if you’re not going to score yourself, you’re not going to let the opposition score.

“That’s something we’ve noticed, particularly on the weekend, it’s definitely a problem at the moment.”

For Port to make the finals it needs to beat the Bombers on Friday night and hope that Gold Coast beats Geelong for the first time in its history on Saturday.

If both the Power and Cats win, Wines knows his side will miss the eight because of its inferior percentage.

“We understand we’ve got a game to go here and we still have an opportunity – however small it may be,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to play finals so we’ve got to do everything in our power to get right for Friday.

“Essendon are a team in good form and they’re going to come over here wanting to finish their year off well so we have to win and then hope for a little bit of luck on Saturday.

“I don’t know if (former Sun Charlie Dixon) Dicko’s got any Gold Coast guernseys lying around but if we can get the win, I daresay we’ll be putting them on and barracking.” 

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