AFL 2021: Inside story behind the rise of Ollie Wines

Two years ago, Ollie Wines was linked with a move to Carlton. Now he is playing career-best footy for the Power. Here’s the inside story behind his rise.

Ollie Wines has his eyes on the ball in last year’s preliminary final. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

As the 2019 trade deadline approaches, speculation swirls about Ollie Wines.

The bullocking midfielder is coming off a disappointing club and individual season at Port Adelaide.

It started with the Echuca product being anointed co-captain then missing the opening two rounds due to shoulder surgery because of a waterskiing accident.

In between the Power falling short of the finals and Wines losing the dual captaincy, he was linked with a trade to Carlton – former Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni last year said the interest came late – but he stayed put.

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Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines in a Brownlow Medal contender. Picture: Tom Huntley

Now, two years later, Wines not only remains at Alberton, he is having his best season.

Port Adelaide’s vice-captain sits fourth in TAB Brownlow Medal betting and is favourite to win his first John Cahill Medal this season.

The 26-year-old is averaging career-highs in disposals (32.0), contested (13.9) and uncontested possessions (17.8), metres gained (429) and inside 50s (5.2).

Also in line for his first All-Australian selection, Wines ranks elite among midfielders in disposals (third in the AFL), contested possessions (seventh) and inside 50s (seventh).

His kick rating – the difference between a player’s expected and actual hit rates under the same amount of pressure compared to the league average – is also at a career-high.

And he has been a driving force behind the club’s premiership tilt this season.

The Power enters Saturday’s home game against Sydney in fifth spot with a 9-4 record after reaching a preliminary final last year.

So what is behind Wines’s stunning form?

Off the field, being settled – at Port Adelaide and in South Australia – is understood to be playing a huge part.

On it, Port Adelaide midfield coach Jarrad Schofield believes a great understanding of his role, being injury-free and his leadership growth are key factors.

“He’s playing as good a footy as I’ve seen from any of the midfielders I’ve been working with,” Schofield, in his third season as an assistant at Alberton, tells The Advertiser.

“Ollie knows his game inside-out … and understands what his strengths are and that’s his inside stoppage work.

“He’s narrowed his focus as to what his real weapons are.

“The one thing with his field kicking is knowing what kick is right for him and it’s where he’s progressed this year.

“Ollie knows he doesn’t need to be all things as a player.”

Schofield says Wines is also reviewing his own games closer than ever to help win more of the ball, particularly uncontested possessions.

Against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, he registered a career-best 43 disposals – one fewer than the Power’s record, held by Peter Burgoyne.

Ollie Wines against Geelong this year. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We know he’s got a strong work ethic and can run all day, but it’s running smarter and playing smarter,” Schofield says.

“Confidence is a wonderful thing as well because when you’re confident, you seem to be in all places.”

Wines is on track to play every game for the first time since 2018 after being hampered by injuries in each of the past two campaigns and not having full pre-seasons.

In 2019, it was that shoulder issue from his lifelong hobby of waterskiing, as well as a broken leg and broken thumb, costing him 10 matches in total.

Last season he missed the opening two rounds due to a problem with his other shoulder.

“He’s strong, he’s over those injuries and that plays a massive part,” Schofield says.

“When your game is built around contest and parts of your body aren’t supporting you, you can tend to play a little bit different.”

Power coach Ken Hinkley says being injury-free has gone a long way but Wines has also matured and works hard at his game.

“Oll’s just really comfortable with who he is and what he is to our football team and that’s really important,” Hinkley says.

Wines’s contentment at the Power and in Adelaide was reflected in him signing a four-year contract extension in November.

Any talk of the 171-gamer going home has been quashed and he is also understood to have a girlfriend who is from SA.

Given he will be turning 32 by the time his deal expires at the end of 2026, Wines looks set to retire a Port Adelaide player.

Ollie Wines on crutches during his injury-hampered 2019 season. Picture Sarah Reed

Finishing his career at the Power appeared up in the air at the end of 2019.

Coming off a down season that included two SANFL games, the Victorian was understood to have questioned his future, wondering where his career was heading and whether he should stay at Port Adelaide.

He stuck with the club but losing the co-captaincy that December after just one year was then believed to have made Wines question himself and his leadership.

It was understood the lure of being captain had been central to him signing a long-term rather than shorter contract extension a year earlier.

When Tom Jonas was named sole skipper, Port Adelaide officials said at the time the club listened to its key stakeholders by going away from dual captains, which had never been done until the 2019 season.

But, given how well he is playing, has it been the best thing for him and helped release the shackles?

Wines finished last season well, helping the Power reach the preliminary final and placing equal-fifth in the club’s best-and-fairest.

He has stepped up again further this year while improving his leadership along the way.

“Ollie’s grown in such a short period of time in his leadership qualities and he’s always wanted to improve in that space,” Schofield says.

“His leadership has really taken his game to another level.

“He has a good mix of leading on the track and leading by example and the way he prepares himself.

Ollie Wines at the press conference to announce he had lost the co-captaincy and been made vice-captain in 2019. Picture: AAP/Kelly Barnes

“His understanding and knowledge during the week of opposition players is very good.

“When we’re in quarter-time and half-time breaks ... he is able to articulate the message we want as coaches to the fellow midfielders and he’s able to really lead in that sense.

“Ollie also has high standards and demands a lot of himself so if he feels like he’s not performing or pulling his weight, he’ll wear that.”

The path to leadership happened quickly for Wines at Alberton.

Drafted at pick seven in 2012, he was vice-captain at 22 and co-skipper at 24.

He has spoken openly about wanting to captain the side again if he is asked and others believe he will be a better skipper if there is a second time.

Schofield says “there is no question” Wines can lead the side again at some point.

As for whether Wines can earn another title this year, as the Power’s inaugural Brownlow medallist, Schofield says: “It’s hard to say if he is but if you look at form, he’s done it on a consistent basis. He’s right up there with the quality midfielders this season, for sure.”

Speaking post-game on Saturday, Wines was not even thinking about individual accolades.

His sole focus is winning a flag.

“I’m enjoying my football at the moment and am loving playing with these boys like I have my whole career – I’ve got a lot of belief we can do something pretty special,” Wines says.

“This group is so special to me … and we want to achieve something great.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: Inside story behind the rise of Ollie Wines