Ollie Wines elevated to Power leadership group for third AFL season

Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak says his young teammate Ollie Wines is a scary prospect.

Wines, at the age of 20 and entering just his third AFL season, has been elevated into Port’s seven-man leadership group

“It’s scary to think what he can become, not only as a player but the leadership he can bring,” Boak told reporters on Wednesday.

Wines remarkably hasn’t missed a game since being recruited to Port – in two seasons, he has played 49 straight.

The rugged onballer has also won plaudits at Port for his uncompromising approach.

“He has stepped straight in and been so demanding of others – and it doesn’t matter who it is,” Boak said.

“If we’re at a stoppage and I’m not in the right spot, he’ll tell me what to do and that is a credit to him.”

Boak this season will have two vice-captains, with ruckman Matthew Lobbe promoted to the joint role with Brad Ebert.

Defenders Jackson Trengove and Tom Jonas and midfielder Hamish Hartlett round out a leadership group which Boak said would be strengthened by its only newcomer, Wines.

“As soon as he stepped in these doors, you knew that he was a quality person,” Boak said.

“He has probably got two sides to him where on the field is a scary sort of bloke, you don’t want to run into him. But then off the field he loves to have a laugh and is quite an enjoyable person.

“He is one who will do everything to improve his game, to improve others.

“He will work harder than anyone at the club but when the time is there to enjoy yourself and have a laugh, he’ll switch off and enjoy it.

“He’s a pretty special kid.”

Port were beaten preliminary finalists last season and Wines had led a push for improvement in a testing preseason, Boak said.

“His running ability has gone to another level which is what we needed from our whole group and Ollie has certainly set the standard,” he said.

“He just wants to improve, like the rest of our group.”