PORT ADELAIDE vice-captain Ollie Wines said the close loss to Collingwood gives his side an opportunity to sharpen up for the last four minor round games, heading into finals. 

The top-of-the-table, two-point thriller on Saturday night saw the Power lead for the majority of the match, before slipping in the final minutes. 

Wines spoke to the media on Monday to reflect on the Collingwood clash, review his own form, and look ahead to the second Showdown of 2023 this weekend. 

Wines on the Collingwood game 
“Kenny (Hinkley) said afterwards it was a pretty good game to watch from his vantage point. I'm sure the fans got a lot out of it. Obviously, we fell short but there's some positives to come (out of it) but ultimately when it comes to September time and we're in those big games, we want to win them. We'll take the positives for now, but we've still got some things we can sharpen up. 

“We had a chat walking off the field that we would walk off with our heads held high. Fortunately, this year we’ve been on the right end of a lot of those close games and feeling that euphoria at the end of game but on Saturday night, that wasn't to be…we can take what we can from it and move on to the rest of the season.” 

Port Adelaide huddles together and re-groups after the final siren against Collingwood. Image: AFL Photos.

Wines on learnings from Saturday night  
“I think you've got to capitalise on your opportunities in those close games and we had plenty of opportunities going forward inside 50 and we weren't able to be as efficient as we would have liked. I think once we get to the end of the season these games start getting really important, you've got to make the most of your opportunities particularly against these really good teams.” 

Wines on the upcoming Showdown 
“I think they’re all pretty similar. We've had an extraordinary run of wins this year and unfortunately now we've lost two in a row, so it has been a little bit of a reality check for us but obviously the size of the Showdown in Adelaide, we get two opportunities to play the Crows and it's really big. In saying that, we don't want to really rush over any of the improvements we can make over the Collingwood game. It’s only Monday, it's early in the week so we'll review that game and by Wednesday, Thursday we'll be on to the Crows. 

“Despite where both teams are year in, year out on the ladder, they’re always close. I think we’ve had a lot of experience with close games this year which we like to back ourselves in (for) but as I said before we get two opportunities a year and it's a two-team town so certainly that does promote a really high energy game.” 

Port Adelaide will enter Saturday night's Showdown hoping to even the ledger in 2023. Image: AFL Photos.

Wines on his own form 
“I've been playing a bit of a different role this year, out on the wing a lot, accommodating for a few roles (and playing some) time inside. It's certainly something that I haven't done a lot in my career so I’m trying to learn a new skill and learn that role and add that string to my bow so it is tough in those dying stages not to be around the ball and probably where I’d like to be but at the same time it's the right thing for the team at the moment and Drewy (Willem Drew) was doing a really good job on (Nick) Daicos.” 

Wines on his body 
“I'm pretty healthy at the moment. I think I've turned a corner probably after the bye and feeling a lot of confidence in my body at the moment so it’s a good time to be getting fit coming into the back half of the season and finals, so that's no excuse (for having a quieter game).” 

Vice-captain Ollie Wines is feeling confident in his body after overcoming some nagging injuries earlier in the year. Image: AFL Photos.

Wines on the racial vilification of Willie Rioli over the weekend 
“He's going okay. The club, the boys, our fans have wrapped their arms around him but it's just so disappointing to continually see that happen. It's one thing in society that we will continue to do everything we can to stamp out for making these guys feel like they are. We’re wrapping our arms around Willie and we'll help him out. The more we speak up on it, I think the better and the more awareness we can get around it, but I guess our role as teammates and good mates of Willie is to wrap our arms around him when it does happen and do what we can to make him feel better. The more we can educate everyone out there and what this does to people, the more we can have an influence.” 

Wines on Darcy Byrne-Jones’s concussion 
“I think he's good, he's shaken off his concussion and was running last week. I think it's been 11 days, he probably won't train tomorrow, he’ll train Thursday and then he'll be available again.” 

Utility Darcy Byrne-Jones looks likely to return for Showdown LIV. Image: AFL Photos.

Wines on captain Tom Jonas being out of the side 
“Tom, myself and the club have managed it really well and understand the situation that we’re in and Tom's been really open and honest with me and we've been communicating the whole time. It's probably not traditional and probably hasn't happened for a few years but I think we've managed it really well and Tom understands what's going on, but in saying that it's really early in the week and selection hasn't happened and he had a really strong game in the SANFL again yesterday so potentially could come in.” 

Wines on Connor Rozee’s 100th game this weekend 
“He’s extraordinary. I think his development from a young forward coming from the North of Adelaide to a genuine star midfielder of the comp is incredible. His impact around stoppage but then to go forward, you see the skill he has hitting the scoreboard. He's a pretty special talent.”