AS Port Adelaide prepares to crown its 2020 club champion at next Thursday’s Best and Fairest count, portadelaidefc.com.au looks at the contenders to take home the John Cahill Medal.
How the voting works: Following the completion of each game, the panel of Senior Coach Ken Hinkley, Senior Assistant Michael Voss, each player’s respective line coach and General Manager – Football Chris Davies cast their votes. Each player’s performance is rated between 0-5, with a maximum of 20 and minimum of zero votes awarded per player, per game.
John Cahill Medal Contender – Ollie Wines
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but for Ollie Wines it felt as if it had disastrously hit his burly shoulders for a second time.
After an off-season mishap dislocated his right shoulder and triggered a chain of injury woes that derailed his 2019 season, you could have forgiven the midfield bull for fearing the same fate after a training collision in early 2020 popped his left shoulder out of place.
However, Wines was one of the few benefactors of the coronavirus-enforced season shutdown given his latest shoulder setback would only cost him two games in the end.
Wines returned to the side in Round 3 after missing the opening game against the Suns and serving a suspension for hosting a news crew at his home for an interview ahead of the Round 2 Showdown.
His impact in Port’s midfield was felt immediately, gathering 25 disposals, six clearances, booting the match-sealing goal and never looking back.
At Port Adelaide, his 21.8 disposals per game trailed only Travis Boak and Tom Rockliff, while his 81 clearances ranked second from two fewer games, and his 7.6 ground ball gets and three stoppage clearances per contest ranked him as elite.
His performances at the coal face also stacked up across the competition, with the 26-year-old finishing top 10 in the AFL for stoppage clearances and top 15 for contested possessions, total clearances, inside 50s and handballs.
Meanwhile, the biggest criticism of the Echuca product’s game has long been of his ball use. In 2020 he logged the highest disposal efficiency numbers of his career while also recording his fewest number of clangers.
He’s no stranger to the stage on best and fairest night, having claimed three consecutive Gavin Wanganeen Medals from 2013-15 and finishing runner-up to Robbie Gray and Justin Westhoff in 2016 and 2018. Could his return to form in 2020 bring a first John Cahill Medal for Ollie Wines?
Three of the best:
Round 3 vs Fremantle
Back with a bang! Wines returned to Port Adelaide’s line-up in heroic fashion against Fremantle. Relishing the slippery conditions at Metricon Stadium, the vice-captain amassing 25 disposals and six clearances, and he slotted the match-sealing goal.
Round 11 vs Richmond
Wines 150th game was one to remember – a remarkable win against the reigning premiers in the ‘Game of the Season’ and celebrating the milestone with four points alongside great mate Tom Jonas, also playing his 150th. Wines rose to the occasion, gathering 28 disposals (22 contested), winning 10 clearances, laying 10 tackles and booting a goal to go with three Brownlow votes for good measure.
Round 16 vs North Melbourne
Wines was simply dominant against the Kangaroos, putting in the perfect shift for an inside midfielder, winning 30 disposals, seven clearances and booting two quick-fire goals in another best on ground performance.
