Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines might be young but are driving Port Adelaide's fairytale
Despite their tender years — Wingard and Wines — the two W’s have been instrumental in the Power’s astonishing rise up the ladder.
WINGARD + WINES = winning.
That appears to be the simple equation for Port Adelaide’s past two first-round draft picks Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines.
Despite their tender years — Wingard has just turned 20 and Wines will be 19 next month — the two W’s have been instrumental in the Power’s astonishing rise up the AFL ladder.
Family first and foremost for Ollie
The gun pair have helped turn a side which won a grand total of eight games in two years into this year’s AFL’s giantkiller which is just two wins from a shock grand final appearance.
“They have been huge,’’ Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said of the club’s two newest heroes.
“For Ollie to come in his first year and put his body on the line and play the footy that he has, just the bullocking, contested style that he brings, has been great.
“And Chad, to do the stuff that he’s done, to kick the goal (to win the game) just before the final siren against the Crows and to kick clutch goals in other games just shows the character he’s got.
“Our recruiting staff should earn a bit of respect for the quality of the people they’ve got into the club.’’
Rookie Wines’ rapid rise has been remarkable.
The powerfully-built 187cm, 89kg ball of muscle ranks in the top five at Port in six key statistical categories — disposals, handballs, contested possessions, clearances, tackles and score assists.
Drafted at No. 7 last year, the midfielder’s hardness is highlighted by him ranking second in contested possessions (188) and clearances (68).
Class act Wingard — drafted at pick six at the 2011 national draft — has taken the competition by storm in his second season.
Apart from kicking clutch goals and standing up in the big moments, Wingard ranks No. 1 in the league for goal averages for players averaging over 20 disposals.
In 23 matches he has kicked 43 goals, including three in last week’s stunning elimination final upset of Collingwood.
Wingard is in rarefied air, sitting above superstars of the competition Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) and Geelong pair Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson.
Wingard hasn’t only kicked goals he has assisted in scores as well.
He had 30 assists for the home-and-away season — ranked 14th in the competition — while of the top 22 kicks into the forward 50, no player found a marking target more than him.
Fifty-four per cent of Wingard’s kicks were retained by the Power — ranked third behind only Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury and Essendon’s Brent Stanton.
As they have done all season, Wingard and Wines shone brightly in last week’s final against the Pies.
Displaying nerves of steel in their first final, Wingard became the youngest player to record 19 disposals, seven marks and three goals in a final since Chris Grant for the Western Bulldogs against St Kilda in 1992.
Wines had 18 disposals, five clearances and booted two goals. Between them they helped turn the match on its head by booting four of Port’s last six goals.
“They played ripper games,’’ Boak said.
“To just come into the system and go out and play the footy they did (in a knockout final) was great to see and shows the great character that they have.’’
Coach Ken Hinkley described their performances as “special’’.
“Ollie has had a great year for his first year and Chad has just had an unbelievable second year,” he said.
“It’s been frightening to be honest.
“They stood up and played well and we know good players play well in finals.’’