Chris McDermott’s Round 14 Team of the Week: The finest of Ollie Wines
IT was no surprise to see Port Adelaide dominate the Team of the Week in the last of the bye rounds after a gutsy, top-four shaping win against Melbourne. See who made the Round 14 team and listen to the Bones blog.
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IT was no surprise to see Port Adelaide dominate the Team of the Week in Round 14 after their gutsy win over Melbourne last Friday night.
Ollie Wines led from the front with 29 possessions and 8 clearances but it was 1 passage of play in the closing minutes that defined his influence on this contest.
The Power kicked the ball in after a Melbourne behind and Wines took a strong contested mark on the half back flank.
He kicked long down the line to Ryder. The ruckman followed suit and went down the line to Dixon who also marked strongly.
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Dixon kicked long to the forward pocket where, you guessed it Wines took another contested mark and had the final shot on goal.
It was a sensational piece of play that may well have a huge impact on the Power’s premiership chase.
It was brilliant, hard-running, gut-busting football from Wines and the reason he is a certainty to captain the club when the time is right.
Wines was joined in this week’s team by Justin Westhoff, Tom Jonas and Sam Powell-Pepper.
Westhoff was sensational early, kicking two goals. And despite only having 12 possessions he had nine crucial hit-outs, laid six tackles and got the ball inside the 50m five times.
What a season he is having.
Tom Jonas was a lock for a place in defence after another rock-solid performance repelling Melbourne’s attacks time after time and again making his presence felt with 12 one percenters and 20 possessions.
If he hasn’t already secured an All-Australian jumper, it is a matter of time.
The final member of the Power quartet in this week’s Team of the Week is Sam Powell-Pepper.
He let every Melbourne midfielder know they were in for a physical night and didn’t relent until the final siren sounded, laying a club-high 17 brutal tackles.
It was inspirational stuff.
Melbourne’s strong performance didn’t go unnoticed.
Jack Viney earned a spot in the midfield the team after gathering a game high 31 possessions and 14 clearances.
Round 14 was full of brilliant moments and quality individual efforts.
The Kangaroos’ Jack Ziebell kicked the matchwinning goal against the Western Bulldogs to secure his place while teammate Ben Brown earned his spot with an imposing five-goal effort and a brilliant toe-poke pass to Ziebell for the final goal of the game.
The Kangas also had four members in this week’s team with Todd Goldstein finding his best to secure the role in ruck and Majak Daw continued to blossom in defence to earn his second TOTW jumper this season.
Carlton youngster Charlie Curnow produced another great game to earn another place despite Carlton losing to Collingwood in Sunday’s blockbuster at the G.
Patty Cripps was there again as was Giants superstar Josh Kelly.
His rich vein of form continued with yet another 30-possession game.
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