Brownlow medallist speaks after Footy Show stars’ shock medical claim

Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines has revealed the truth of his health issues after a controversial medical claim on the Footy Show.

Matthew Lloyd on The Footy Show and Ollie Wines. Photo: Nine, James Elsby, Getty.

Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines has revealed the truth behind his health issues following a segment on the Footy Show where a shock claim was made about his medical condition.

Wines on Monday spoke publicly to announce he is “100 per cent back to normal” after a scary incident on the weekend where he was subbed out of his team’s disastrous loss to Melbourne at half time after experiencing nausea and dizziness, having played just 27 minutes.

The club announced the following day that he was in hospital with a “heart irregularity – the cause of which is undetermined and will be investigated over the coming days”.

Port Adelaide said in a subsequent statement Wines had been discharged after the heart irregularity “resolved itself” and that he would remain under observation over the coming days.

His health was at the centre of a segment on the Sunday Footy Show where it was speculated his condition may have been linked to Covid-19 vaccination.

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Wines spoke for the first time on Monday.

“I’m 100 per cent back to normal, thanks to the Calvary staff the doctors and nurses there,” he said.

“They really looked after me, and now I’m 100 per cent fine. There were a few little issues but they have been rectified now.”

Matthew Lloyd on The Footy Show and Ollie Wines. Photo: Nine, James Elsby, Getty.

Wines said he would miss his club’s Round 5 clash against Carlton.

He said his heart issue is not related his Covid vaccination or vaccine complications, including myocarditis.

Myocarditis and pericarditis are rare inflammatory heart conditions associated with Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.

“Nothing to that, completely unrelated,” Wines said.

“It was more a heart rhythm issue in elderly people and elite athletes.

“Once it was explained to me it was really reassuring and there aren’t too many long-term effects.

“The prognosis is really positive. I’ve got a few more tests to come and to see the cardiologist again but at this stage it’s not a big issue.”

His comments were in stark contrast to the speculation raised on the Footy Show, by stars including Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd and former Richmond forward Nathan Brown.

Football journalist Damian Barrett discussed Wines’ situation with the panel, which also included host Tony Jones.

“Watch this space at this stage, nothing coming out of the Port Adelaide team this morning,” Barrett said.

Ollie Wines and his team mates walk off the oval. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“His subbing out of the game on Thursday night for nausea slash heart reasons, he spent time in hospital — it’s just a big unknown as to when he will play again. It may be as soon as this week but nothing coming out of the club at this stage.”

That prompted Brown to ask, “Is there a lot of this going on in world sport at the moment, Damo? A lot of athletes have got these issues?”

“Are you referring to the booster shots and the contracting of Covid?” Barrett said.

Brown replied, “I was referring to the booster shots, that’s obviously the word going around.”

“Look, it’s being discussed,” Barrett said.

“I haven’t been able to get an official line on that from anyone attached to Ollie Wines at this stage, but yeah, the question is being asked and put to me and others, including yourself, by a lot of people, about the possibility of that.”

ones chimed in that “it’s not just the heart issues”, pointing out that Lloyd had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy — facial paralysis — earlier this year.

Bell’s palsy is a known but rare side effect associated with some vaccines.

“Without delving into your private affairs, you’ve got Bell’s palsy at the moment, which hopefully you’re on the back end of that, but there’s a bit of that going around as well,” Jones said.

The former Bombers star first revealed his diagnosis in an interview with the Herald Sun last month, but Sunday’s show appears to be the first time he suggested the vaccine may have been the cause.

“Exactly, heart issues and Bell’s palsy has gone through the roof since the boosters and Covid issues,” Lloyd said.

“We had (sports journalist) Michelangelo Rucci on (3AW) on Friday night and he said that there’s a ward in Adelaide filled with people with similar symptoms to Ollie Wines – nausea, heart issues – so there has to be something more to it.”

Jones then stressed that “we’re not anti-vaxxers”.