Ollie Wines says captaincy carrot won’t change how he approaches pre-season with the Power

Port Adelaide vice captain Ollie Wines says he won’t change his demeanour or attitude this pre-season with the top job up for grabs.

Ollie Wines hits the track during Port Adelaide’s pre-season. Picture: Kelly Barnes.

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Port Adelaide vice captain Ollie Wines says he won’t change his demeanour or attitude this pre-season with the top job up for grabs.

The 24-year-old is considered the frontrunner to replace Travis Boak who stepped down as captain after six seasons but both Wines and the club are quick to highlight there are several players who could do the job.

The decision will be made by the playing group in consultation with coach Ken Hinkley, the football department and club management and Wines said it wouldn’t change the way he conducts himself over summer.

“It’s business as usual for everyone who is in that position to perhaps take that on,” he said.

“It’s stock standard pre-season and there are so many natural leaders on our list that they don’t have to go out of their way to change things — they do it as it is.”

Boak might be back training in the No. 10 guernsey in Noosa this week but he is still very much calling the shots off the field and leading by example on it.

“We still call him skip and I think that nickname will stick,” Wines said.

The midfielder has focused on his fitness this pre-season, spending less time in the gym, and said the camp was beneficial for the team.

Wines and Dan Houston wrestle on the beach in Noosa. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“We’re here to work hard and obviously we’re going to get tired as the days go on, they’re long days and early mornings so there will be a bit of fatigue but that’s the aim of the camp — to push us to see what we have in the tank,” Wines said.

“These things are so beneficial for not just the physical side of things but connection between teammates, over the last three years we’ve turned over so much of our list and so many new guys have come into the team, so these camps give ample opportunity for people to get to know each other.

“As well as the new players we have new coaches and it’s one way to freshen up by changing the playing list but the coaches as well brings a whole new lease on life in terms of the terminology used for the midfield, backs and forwards.

“And as players who have been here a while we get to learn all the new stuff with the new guys and that creates that bond as well.”