Echuca’s Andrew Walker on Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines’ Brownlow
One of the finest footballers produced in the Goulburn Valley inspired Ollie Wines to his 2021 Brownlow Medal.
Goulburn Valley
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Growing up, Ollie Wines watched Andrew Walker sit on opposition players’ shoulders regularly.
But he has now flown higher than his idol — who he watched far afar in their hometown of Echuca — after he claimed the 2021 Brownlow Medal.
It was a historical night for the border town and the Port Adelaide Football Club — as both are now home to “Charlie” for the first time.
Former Carlton star Walker admits he was shocked to be mentioned by Ollie Wines in his Brownlow Medal acceptance speech.
Wines spoke highly of fellow Echuca product Walker recalling the moments he used to call 3AW to talk about the 202-game veteran’s stats with Rex Hunt.
And Walker, who is still one of Echuca’s senior coaches, admitted he was a taken aback.
“There’s probably no more debate about who the best player from Echuca is anymore especially with Clayton (Oliver) running around as well,” he joked.
“It’s very humbling to have someone mention you when they’ve just had the biggest moment of their life.
“It’s just awesome and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Wines played his last game for the Murray Bombers almost a decade ago in the final home and away game against Shepparton United in 2020.
But his connection to the club remains strong.
“He’s always on the phone to us and asking how everything is going,” Walker said.
“When he does get time off, he is calling me because he wants to get down to training and have a kick with the boys. So many of his good mates are still here.
“Ollie is Echuca through and through.”
Walker said he was proud to see the former Bendigo Pioneers captain put a challenging time of his career behind him after Wines was criticised for injuring himself in a water skiing accident.
He was also on the verge of following in Walker’s footsteps when he was almost traded to Carlton.
He was also stripped of the co-captaincy alongside Tom Jonas.
“Unfortunately scrutiny is going to come when you’re an AFL footballer and you’re in the limelight” he said.
“But Ollie is a driven person who has put his head down and all of the hard work has paid off.”
How the Goulburn Valley dominated season 2021
Two of the players who finished on the Goulburn Valley podium were exports of Goulburn Valley league clubs.
Winner Wines and third placed Clayton Oliver both spent time in the Bottle Green of Echuca and not in their wildest dreams could anyone at the club have seen it coming.
President Ash Byrne said he was incredibly proud of what the two players had achieved.
“All of their hard work has paid off and a lot of credit has to go to them,” Byrne said.
Byrne said Wines had always been proud of his hometown.
“He is a great representative for our community and a fantastic role model,” he said.
“Even as a young footballer when he was playing in the seniors as a 16-year-old he could mix it with the bigger blokes and has always been driven to get the best out of himself.”
Oliver finished five votes behind his good mate Wines in a season where he also took his game to the next level.
Having started out at Echuca, the 24-year-old earned his shot at the top level after a dominant end to his top age year with the Murray Bushrangers while also spending time with Mooroopna.
Cats president Bill Dowling said Oliver spent so much time at the club you could see a special product developing before his eyes.
“Clayton just loves his footy,” he said.
“He was a late developer and it’s incredible what he has gone onto achieve. I’m sure he will be thrilled for his mate Ollie and will now have his mind on Saturday’s grand final.”
The Goulburn Valley is assured to have a premiership player by Saturday’s final siren with several players from the region set to feature.
Clayton Oliver will represent Melbourne alongside Jack Viney who played school footy with the new Brownlow medallist in Echuca.
The Western Bulldogs have a quartet of players on their books including Will Hayes (Euroa), Alex Keath (Shepparton), Josh Schache (Seymour) and Laitham Vandermeer (Mooroopna).