Wines salutes 200 games

By Josh Huntly

Jul 28, 2022

Knotching up 200: Echuca's Ollie Wines salutes game 200 this weekend. Photo: AAP. Photo by AAP

One of Echuca’s favourite sons and its sole Brownlow Medallist will run out for his 200th AFL game in Port Adelaide’s round 20 clash against Collingwood.

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Ollie Wines will become Port Adelaide’s 10th 200-gamer when he runs out against the Pies at the MCG to join a club only three from the Echuca-Moama region to date are currently members of.

“It is a moment in my career when I can pause and look back,” Wines said.

“It is the moment when I can stop, look back and savour what has happened. And it has exceeded all my expectations.”

Wines becomes just the second player out of the Echuca Football Netball Club to play 200 AFL games after current coach Andrew Walker, who played 202 games with Carlton.

Ollie's Brownlow: Echuca's Ollie Wines gives the Charles Brownlow Medal a smooch after taking out the prestigious award. Picture: AAP. Photo by AAP

And it’s been a storied career to date for the former Murray Bomber.

Since being drafted at pick seven in the National Draft 10 years ago, Wines has crafted a stellar career to date, picking up a number of enormous accolades.

Wines was a Rising Star nominee in 2013, playing straight from the get-go with a round one berth against Melbourne, picking up 24 disposals in his AFL debut.

He was appointed co-captain of the club in 2019, believed to be the only player out of Echuca to captain an AFL club.

Then in 2021, Wines elevated himself among the game’s greats with the Brownlow Medal, the first recipient of the games highest honour out of Echuca and the first Port Adelaide player to achieve it.

Wines topped off a remarkable season with an All-Australian blazer and his maiden John Cahill medal as Port Adelaide’s best-and-fairest.

The 27-year-old has been one of the big drivers in its recent finals campaigns and has sculpted himself into one of the finest contested midfielders in the game.

The boy from Echuca

Down by the Murray: Ollie Wine’s pictured here playing for Echuca back in 2011. Photo: Ray Sizer. Photo by Ray Sizer

Wines played his junior football at Echuca and the Bendigo Pioneers — three games as a 15-year-old — in what was then known as the TAC Cup.

His work ethic and strong leadership values saw him anointed captain of the Pioneers in 2012, and a strong National Championships campaign saw him earn an All-Australian spot.

Wines exploits in the Pioneers midfield in 2012 saw him named in the centre in the TAC Cup team of the year.

The young prodigy also managed seven senior appearances for Echuca, including five during the the 2011 season where the Murray Bombers progressed to the preliminary final.