Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines is the Round One NAB Rising Star nomination. Wines collected 24 possessions and kicked one goal in the 79-point demolition of Melbourne on Sunday at the MCG.
Drafted to the Power from country Victoria with Pick Seven in the 2012 National Draft with a reputation for physicality, true to form, Wines collected 16 contested possessions against the Demons. A record for AFL players on debut and a feat only matched by best friend and fellow debutant Jack Viney.
Power coach ken Hinkley described Wines’ performance as “outstanding” and said he has quickly earned the admiration of all within the club with his approach to training and games.
“Ollie immediately won the respect of his teammates with the way he applied himself and I know they’ll all be delighted for him as well,” Hinkley said.
Speaking at the AFL Players’ Association Induction Camp in January Wines said he has adjusted to his interstate move and “loving” the challenges his AFL experience had thrown at him so far.
“It has been full on so far but I am loving my time at the club and the move to Adelaide. I am still getting used to it and I am sure that will take time but so far so good,” Wines said.
He conceded that moving away from friends and family in Echuca has been a challenge but it has been made easier by the support of his host family and teammates.
“It has been difficult, going from my home and everything I have known to a foreign environment but I think as I get used to it, it will get easier and it will only make me stronger moving away from home,” he said.
“A lot of the teammates have been really accommodating by inviting the young boys over for dinner and BBQs and really getting amongst us to make us feel welcome.”
One of those teammates is Power midfielder Brett Ebert who has impressed Wines during pre-season and become a mentor for the ex-Bendigo Pioneer.
“To be honest I didn’t know a lot about Brad and didn’t watch him a lot before I was drafted to Port Adelaide but after seeing him train I am just blown away by the effort he gives and how fit and into his football he is,” Wines said.
Wines identified the need to keep busy to overcome any homesickness he may feel and he plans to undertake university – ideally in architecture.
“I think I will start university in my first year. I think I am up to it in my first year and it will really keep me busy in my days off and help me not think about home too much,” he said.
Wines said the biggest thing he has taken from the Induction Camp is to “keep a clear head”.
“I think there is tendency as AFL footballers to think you are above everyone else but I think you need to bring yourself down to earth and as we have seen today, for example the Ladder foundation who tackle youth homelessness; it is really important to give back to the community,” Wines said.
“There is a lot of smart heads around and you can really tap into their wealth of knowledge.
“I am just trying to tap into their minds and harness their thoughts and get some good tips to help me going forward with my career.”