Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek has detailed the Magpies' mindset when surging late in games, claiming opposition teams 'get scared' of the Pies' come-from-behind threat.
Mihocek, as well as ex-Magpie and current Hawk Max Lynch, were featured on The Footy with Broden Kelly on Tuesday, as the key forward was quizzed on his side's innate ability to come up trumps after trailing late.
"I don't know, I think it's more other teams get scared as well, I'd say," started Mihocek.
"It's in the back of all the teams' minds, we're gonna come for you this last quarter, we're gonna chase you down and get that win, and then it's just belief in us that we can have a bad quarter but we can still win the game, and we did it a lot last year, [we] have done it a few times this year.
While Collingwood's ability to overpower teams in the fourth quarter is undoubtedly an invaluable strength, Mihocek says he'd rather his Pies win convincingly each weekend.
"Whenever we want to play, we do," Mihocek laughed. "I'd rather not do it, I'd rather just win by 100 points every week."
Asked about senior coach Craig McRae's role in the top-ranked club's successes, Mihocek couldn't speak highly enough of the second-year mentor.
"I'd say a lot's him, [he] drives the culture, drives every individual player to get the best out of themselves, the belief that we'll fight to the very end," he said.
"We train it all pre-season, even every session during the [regular season] now, we're still having one-on-one contests, and bash-and-crash into each other, so, yeah, it's driven into us and it shows.
"We will fight, we've got Brayden Maynard, who would kill, he'd honestly tear you in half.
"Winning games builds confidence."
A by-product of Collingwood's superb form, Mihocek has gone at a career-best 2.1 goals-per-game average in 2023, playing the role of the Pies' main key forward option.
Magpies play arch-rivals the Blues in a Friday night blockbuster at the MCG, with Collingwood looking to solidify its spot on top of the ladder.