Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines reveals his old trust issues with Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley

Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
VideoPort Adelaide Brownlow Medal winner Ollie Wines speaks to Sunrise after winning AFL’s top honour

A candid Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines has revealed he previously struggled to trust coach Ken Hinkley, but a decision to stop questioning his decisions paved the way for him to win the game’s highest individual honour.

Wines endured a difficult 2019 where he was overlooked for AFL selection and forced to play in the SANFL despite being Port Adelaide’s co-captain. He then lost the co-captaincy at the end of the season as the Power chose Tom Jonas to be the sole leader.

Wines considered leaving the club to join Carlton at the end of that season, but remained at Port Adelaide and said he now understood that Hinkley was only trying to make him a better player.

“It probably took me a while to really trust Kenny. I had a lot of conversations with mum about it. I’ve got to trust Ken and what he’s done for me. It’s paid dividends,” Wines said.

“Sometimes (it’s about) putting my ego away and trusting Ken to make the decisions. I think at times he is very tough on selection. He has been for me.

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“I’ve doubted his calls at times but now I know he’s always got the best intentions for me in mind. As much as we get angry and grumpy at times with decisions coaches make, you’ve got to understand they’ve got the best intentions in mind.

“They want you to succeed. They want the team to succeed so you’ve got to put your full trust in them.”

Camera IconWines with his prize. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

Wines said having an injury free pre-season played a key role in his outstanding 2021 season.

He polled 36 votes to equal Dustin Martin’s record for the highest winning Brownlow Medal tally.

Wines said he’d taken enormous pleasure from seeing the joy his win had brought his family in Victoria.

The bullocking midfielder said he was proud of how he fought back from adversity.

“We’ve put so much work into our resilience as a football club over the last 18 months,” he said.

Camera IconWines relaxing after his win. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

“As an individual I’ve been tested in that on and off the field. I’m proud of myself for standing up under that uncomfortable situation at the time.

“The captaincy was a really easy decision fr me to be honest. I want the best for the club. I want to succeed. For us to do that and for us to have the best chance of success, it’s for Tom Jonas to captain us, I was more than happy to support him and play my role.”

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