Ollie Wines not concerned by Port Adelaide’s practice game failures

Star midfielder Ollie Wines says Port Adelaide’s two pre-season losses could help them avoid a repeat of their horror start to 2022.

Ollie Wines had 26 disposals but failed to win a clearance as the Power lost to the Dockers by 31 points at Fremantle Oval. Picture: James Worsfold / Getty Images

Port Adelaide’s unimpressive pre-season hit-outs will provide the side with enough feedback to avoid another catastrophic start to the season, Ollie Wines says.

The Power wasted a chance to surge past Fremantle in the last quarter of their final practice game on Thursday, but Wines said while the 31-point loss was “disappointing”, it offered some clarity on where they had to improve before round 1.

Speaking after arriving back from Perth on Friday, the Port vice-captain’s troublesome left knee was clearly affecting his movement, months after he underwent post-season arthroscopic surgery.

“It pulls up pretty sore to be honest – it’s going to be something that I’ll have to manage throughout the rest of my career,” he said.

“It’s something that a few of us players have gone through over the years, this type of surgery, and it’s something you’ve just got to manage throughout the weeks to get right for game day.

“Understand there’s going to be a bit of pain at times, but as long as I’m right to go when the ball is bounced, that’s the main thing.”

Ollie Wines said he would have to manage pain in his left knee for the rest of his career. Picture: James Worsfold / Getty Images

Wines said the Power had “halted their own momentum” by failing to capitalise on 13 more forward entries than the Dockers, who clamped down on any attempts by Port to move the ball creatively.

“We possessed the ball a lot and had many opportunities, we just couldn’t make the most of them and our defence just broke down a bit at stages,” he said.

“I think they were able to stop our impact and make us play a little bit plain, down the line, which perhaps doesn’t work for us at times.

“We’ve got to continue to explore our weapons throughout the middle of the ground, the guys like Rozee, Butters, Farrell, Burton who can light the ball up and continue to use their strengths.”

The 0-5 start to 2022 was “a little bit” on the mind after Thursday and the earlier loss to West Coast, Wines said, but he said the playing group was more confident than this time last season.

Francis Evans impressed Wines with seven disposals and two goals during an ‘electric’ last quarter cameo against the Dockers. Picture: Will Russell / Getty Images

“We’ve got the opportunity now to learn off it as opposed to learning off five losses in the regular season where they count for premiership points,” he said.

“(Pre-season improvements) are not going to all take from day one, it’s going to take a little bit of time.”

Wines praised the balanced performance by Miles Bergman (25 disposals and a goal) on the wing, while he said new recruit Jason Horne-Francis stepped up in the midfield when the Power were beaten on the inside in the first half.

“(Bergman) is really putting himself in good positions defensively, getting down to help the backs,” he said.

“(Horne-Francis) is so infectious in the contest … he really set the standard for us in the midfield when we lowered our colours.”

Former Geelong small forward Francis Evans had done no harm to his chances of a round 1 club debut, Wines said.

“That was electric when he came on, I was really impressed by Frankie. He got his opportunity over that last quarter and a half and did really well … I think he’s put his name up there.”