Goliath Charlie Dixon ‘probably in the best condition’ Port skipper Ollie Wines has seen

Port Adelaide has had to do without Charlie Dixon in the first half of the year. And as the goalkicker prepares for his return, Port skipper Ollie Wines has a warning for rivals.

BACK IN ACTION: Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon will return from 10 months on the sidelines in the SANFL on Saturday. Picture: KELLY BARNES (AAP).

Monster Port Adelaide forward Charlie Dixon is poised to become an even better player after recovering from an horrific broken leg that threatened to end his AFL career, according to teammate Ollie Wines.

As Dixon prepares to play his first match in 10 months in the SANFL against Sturt at Alberton Oval on Saturday, Wines said the 200cm, 105kg powerhouse had become an even scarier proposition because of the training habits he had learnt on the sidelines.

Wines, who will make his comeback against the Double Blues after being sidelined for a month with a fractured fibula, said key forward Dixon had overcome a tough time — he battled mental demons as he questioned whether he would play again — to be “in probably the best condition I have ever seen him’’.

Charlie Dixon is in ripping condition. Pic: AAP

“He obviously needs some match fitness but in terms of straight line running, his physique, what he is doing out on the track, it’s superb,’’ Wines said.

“He’s trimmed down, he looks quite skinny despite being really strong, and he’s put a lot into that.

“He’s taught himself to almost be hungry a lot of the time, not to eat a lot, and he’s finetuned.

“Personally I think he’ll come back better, he’s quick enough as it is for a big man but I think he’s improved with that.

“He’s going to be very dangerous in the second half of the year, big for us.’’

Dixon, 28, hasn’t played since landing awkwardly in a marking contest in the Power’s round 21 loss to West Coast at Adelaide Oval on August 11 last year, breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle.

Wines said he felt for the Sturt defender who had to stand him.

“Good luck to them, because he’s a goliath at the moment — and he's ever so hungry to prove himself and get back playing AFL,’’ he said.

Wines, whose return will see him play the first SANFL game of his career after he stepped straight into the AFL following his drafting at pick seven in 2012, said he was looking forward to regaining fitness and touch in the local league after he rushed his comeback from off-season shoulder surgery at the start of the season.

Port will be a better team when Dixon returns in attack. Pic: AAP

Wines missed a chunk of pre-season training after hurting his shoulder in a water skiing accident and played his first game of the year against Brisbane at the Gabba in round three.

With the Power having the AFL bye this weekend, Wines said the chance to resume via the SANFL was the perfect scenario.

“If I had my time again, which I have now, I would have preferred to have had a run in the SANFL to prepare me,’’ he said.

“While I could have a certain impact (in the AFL), it was subdued a little bit without having match fitness.

“I think myself and Kenny (coach Ken Hinkley) have learnt from the first time going around, where the AFL is such a step up from straight line running and whatever else you can simulate in terms of training to the actual game.

“Fortunately we’ve got the bye and all things going well I can get a good run (against Sturt) and perhaps put my name forward (for AFL) next week.’’

Ollie Wines is looking forward to getting back out there. Pic: AAP

Wines said he expected to play 75-to-80 per cent of game time against the Double Blues.

He hasn't played since pulling up sore after the Power’s round seven loss to Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.

Scans the following week showed he had sustained a small fracture in his fibula in the round six home win against North Melbourne.

But he said pain from having his foot stepped on during that match hid the soreness in his leg, which surfaced again against the Magpies.

“I got stepped on pretty badly and the whole front of my foot bruised up and went pretty red, so I wasn’t in as much pain in the leg, it was more so my foot,’’ Wines said.

“I think that pain masked the injury to my leg.’’

Scans then revealed the damage.