The Port Adelaide midfield hopefuls set to audition for the spot left vacant by contested-ball star Ollie Wines
Ollie Wines’ injury leaves the Power in an almost identical situation to the one they faced 12 months ago – with a midfield void to fill. We take a look at who could replace him.
Port Adelaide
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Adelaide. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Tom Jonas on ‘super impressive’ draftees
- Wines to miss start of the season again
- Subscriber rewards: Win Adelaide Oval Stadium Club memberships
Summer auditions are once again open to play the Ollie Wines role in the Port Adelaide midfield, after the vice-captain dislocated his left shoulder during match simulation last week.
The injury puts the Power in an almost identical situation to the one they faced 12 months ago, when Wines hurt his right shoulder water skiing.
“He had similar type surgery at the same time last year, so I’d imagine he’s back around the same time – Round 3 or 4,” Port footy boss Chris Davies said on Tuesday.
“It’s disappointing for him, but all he can do now is get it done and approach his rehab in a professional way.
“He’s the type of guy who really pushes and that’s why I’m hesitant on putting any dates on it at the moment.”
Stream over 50 sports live & anytime on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial >
There was no accident on the river this time, but it’s a similar outlook and one which leaves Port Adelaide with a similar void.
And it’s another injection of youth which might, again, offset the disappointment.
With Davies all but conceding the contested-ball star won’t be fit to take on Gold Coast on March 21, the attention turns to his replacement.
And it’s over the next month, starting with the club’s internal trial next Friday, where the auditions will take place.
With a full-squad to pick from, apart from Wines, Davies has full confidence in whoever takes the role.
“We are, obviously, really disappointed with Ollie getting injured, but at the same time we’ve got others player who play a similar type of role that we’ve got confidence in,” he said.
Davies, however, added the similar – and obvious – type of replacement might not be the only one the Power opt for in 2020.
“Our challenge is to continue to get more run in the team,” he said.
“Continue to get more players who aren’t just playing in one spot and have the ability to go inside and outside (in the midfield).”
The evolution of Connor Rozee, from electric forward to explosive midfielder, might happen faster and the skilful Zak Butters won’t be far behind him.
Wingman Xavier Duursma won 49 per cent of his possession in a contest at TAC Cup level and Port is confident it’s part of his game that will eventually translate to the big time.
There’s also Dan Houston, whose likely 2020 midfield role is, now, almost a certainty.
Fourth-year midfielder Willem Drew, who won last year’s audition to replace Wines, has just returned to the main group after pre-season foot surgery and will again be in the mix.
The Power won the clearance 59 per cent of the time Drew attended a centre-bounce last year – the highest percentage at the club.
But it’s the four top draftees Jackson Mead, Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades and Dylan Williams, all who Davies described as “physically capable of competing”, who may benefit the most.
“Mead will have that ability to play mid and forward and is another one of those guys who is potentially closer to a game than if Ollie was available,” Davies said of Mead’s Round 1 chances.
The smart, skilful midfielder can win the ball at the contest and away from it, and he’s a terrific mark above his head, playing as a forward.
“The top four guys who we picked in the draft are positioning themselves pretty well for the start of the season, all of those guys have really impressed,” Davies said.
“If you rewind 12 months, you would have seen three guys (Rozee, Duursma and Butters) who you thought were a little undersized, whereas this year, the four who have come in are more-physically ready.”
“The mix of the guys will be really interesting.”