Consistency the key for Power: Ebert
Four-quarter efforts will decide Port Adelaide's 2013 fate, says Brad Ebert.
The Power have struggled to play a consistent four quarters of football this season, a statement backed by their record as the League's 13th ranked side for first quarters, but the best for final terms.
Last weekend against Geelong was the perfect example - trailing by 63 points early in the final quarter, the Power booted six unanswered goals to get to within 25 points.
With the club sitting in eighth spot, two games clear of ninth, Ebert said the side's destiny was in its own hands with three games to go, but consistency on game day would control where it finished.
"The way that we've played over the year, we're just making sure that we try and maintain that consistency and try and finish off the season well.
"After the first five weeks we thought we were playing pretty well; we obviously lost the next five so that wasn't too flash, but since then I think we've been able to find that consistency.
"The games that we’ve lost we haven't lost by heaps.
"But we're really still trying to make sure that we're playing that consistent four-quarter game, that's the big one."
Ebert hadn't had the opportunity to speak with teammate Angus Monfries, the former Essendon forward who on Tuesday night escaped sanction from the AFL over the Bombers' supplements program.
The move home to Adelaide at the end of last year has sheltered Monfries from the spotlight focused on Windy Hill - and his on-field performance has suggested the pressure hasn't worried him.
The forward's 37 goals this season is a career-best return, as was the seven he booted last weekend.
"I actually haven't spoke to [Monfries] too much this morning, but with 'Gussy', he's been great all year," Ebert said.
"He hasn't let anything faze him too much and I guess that shows in the way he's been playing over the last few weeks.
"He's been able to put it aside pretty well and play footy; he's been great around the club.
"If it is the fact that he is cleared, then it's great for him; I guess it's another thing he doesn't have to worry about."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry