Port Adelaide stalwart Ollie Wines has signed on for a 15th AFL season, with the club’s only Brownlow medallist excited for what 2027 will bring. 

Echuca boy Wines praised Josh Carr’s impact as senior coach, and says he’s fallen in love with the club and its trajectory once again. 

Following his contract extension, Wines spoke with portadelaidefc.com.au about his decision to play on, how his body is holding up, and why the club is so special to him. 

Wines on deciding to play on 
“It's probably been something I've thought about throughout the year, and at times I’ve doubted whether I want to play more football. But there probably came a point in the middle of the season where I really felt like I fell in love with the process that the club's on at the moment, and we've got so many young and emerging players coming into our team. And although this year was a difficult year on field in terms of win-loss, I really enjoyed what we're able to do, get games into these young guys, see the development of guys that I'm around, particularly midfielders like Jase Burgoyne, Jason Horne-Francis, Sweety (Jordon Sweet). Seeing these guys continue to develop and having some sort of impact on their career in the current day and helping them progress further is a big reason why I want to hang around and continue to play.” 

Wines on his body 
“Certainly (the body) was a factor also. Mentally you've got to understand if you can play, but physically also you've got to be able to get through a year. So towards the back end of the season, I got healthier as the year went on, which was really pleasing. By the end of the season, by the last couple of games, I was going into games almost 100 per cent, so I think the way my body healed over the year has been really pleasing, and it's really showing positive signs for next year to hit the ground running. No surgery in the off season, and will have a little rest now, and then we'll get going into 2027.” 

Wines on Josh Carr as senior coach 
“Josh has been brilliant. He's had to show a lot of resilience as a coach. He's had a lot of his key players go down for the whole season in some situations. But the way he's just turned up every day and continued to trust the players and continued to coach us really hard with his coaching team that he's assembled. I've loved to see the development of him throughout the year, and he's only going to get better the more time goes on as a senior coach.” 

Wines on the growth of young players 
“I think the most pleasing thing that I've noticed is guys being able to add extra strings to their bow. I think Jase Burgoyne, who has probably been a winger, and floating spare back, has developed into a really solid inside mid. And we saw some of his games throughout the back half of the year when he was required to play more as a centre bounce inside mid, he was outstanding. Jason Horne-Francis obviously has gone to a new level with his game this year and his impact, and a lot's been spoken about his leadership, and it's gone to another level. Jordon Sweet in the ruck didn't play the first game of the year, wasn't picked, but put his head down, worked hard, and became one of the really dominant ruckmen in the league, so seeing the development of these guys, the club's in a really good spot going forward, and I can't wait to be a part of it next year.” 

Wines on mentoring players 
“A big part of my role is now to do what I can to develop the other guys. So, whether it is working with them in in little aspects of different skills that we require as mids, or in their leadership areas, whatever I can do, whilst also really playing my role to a high level on game day. I'm sort of setting little goals at the moment to how I can achieve that and how I can have the best influence I can on these guys next year, and then hopefully that that holds them in good stead going forward.” 

Wines on calling Adelaide home 
“It has (felt like home) over the last couple of years, particularly having (now 10-month-old son) Leo come along and obviously (partner) Liv a few years before that. The club means a lot to me, and I came here as a as a Victorian who knew nothing about Adelaide, knew nothing about the history or the prestige of the Port Adelaide Football Club, and I really feel at home at this footy club. What it means to me is something very special, and to be able to play another year and represent the jersey, represent our fans who are by far the most passionate in the league is something that is not lost on me. I can't wait to represent the football club again next year.”