PORT ADELAIDE raging bull Ollie Wines remains hot on the heels of the leaders for the AFL Coaches Association AFL Champion Player of the Year Award after another best on ground performance against Hawthorn.
Wines received the maximum ten votes from the coaches after putting on a masterclass performance for an inside midfielder against the Hawks and now sits just six votes shy of competition leader Marcus Bontempelli and one vote behind second-placed Demon Clayton Oliver after both failed to poll over the weekend.
Port’s vice-captain was a monster in the clinches, matching his career-high with 43 possessions (23 of them contested; a game high) and adding an incredible 13 clearances and seven tackles for good measure.
Wines was also a key influence in the Power’s territory dominance during the game, surging the ball forward for 616 metres gained (just three shy of wingman Karl Amon for best afield), including eight inside 50s and six scoring involvements (also the second most on ground).
Rounding out the voting for Port was Darcy Byrne-Jones (six votes), Karl Amon (four), Charlie Dixon (three), Travis Boak (three), Tom Jonas (two), and Ryan Burton (one).
Blake Hardwick (one vote) was the solitary Hawk to be recognised by the coaches in teammate Shaun Burgoyne’s 400th milestone match.
Joining Wines in receiving perfect ten votes from the coaches in Round 16 was Gold Coast’s Touk Miller, Giant Josh Kelly, Sydney’s Callum Mills and Saint Jack Steele.
Round 16 – votes v Hawthorn
10 votes – Wines (PA)
6 votes – Byrne-Jones (PA)
4 votes – Amon (PA)
3 votes – Dixon (PA)
3 votes – Boak (PA)
2 votes – Jonas (PA)
1 vote – Burton (PA)
1 vote – Hardwick (HAW)
Overall leader board
76 votes – Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
71 votes – Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
70 votes – Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
66 votes – Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
63 votes – Darcy Parish (Essendon), Sam Walsh (Carlton)
60 votes – Jack Steele (St Kilda)
55 votes – Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
54 votes – David Mundy (Fremantle)
53 votes – Max Gawn (Melbourne)
51 votes - Zach Merrett (Essendon), Rory Laird (Adelaide)
