PORT ADELAIDE vice-captain says family values, the possibility of premierships and coach Ken Hinkley were key reasons for him recommitting to the club for the next four years.
Wines’ future had been the subject of speculation until he signed on until 2022 last night.
The 23-year-old told a press conference on Wednesday he took his time to make the decision but choosing to stay at Alberton was just a matter of time.
“In decisions like these, you’ve got to weigh things up and see what’s best for you. I think in the changing landscape of AFL footy it’s becoming like a business, you’ve got to do the right thing for you,” he said.
“I had to weigh up all the options.
“Obviously there’s a home state pull back to Melbourne or staying with the club that gave me the opportunity but for what I base myself around and how I live my life, it was a pretty easy decision to stay in Adelaide and stay with this club.
“I’m surrounded by a great group of guys who I have formed life-long relationships with, the players, the coaches, the wider stakeholders of this club, down to the supporters.
“They’ve all been so kind to me and my family and as I said, if it’s all working fine, why change anything.”
Wines said Hinkley never pressured him to stay but played a big part in his decision, while the opportunity to win Premierships was also a motivating factor.
“The biggest second thoughts I had was when his (Ken’s) future was up in the air a little bit,” Wines said.
“That might have made my decision a bit tougher because I have formed such a bond with him, he’s almost like a father figure – and not just for me, I can speak on behalf of the boys.
“We think we’ve got the list at the moment to really challenge in September.
“We’d love to win a flag, everyone says that, and I think the next four years is over that time period where we’re poised to have a crack at it.
“I have never felt uncomfortable at all, I love going into work every day, I love playing with the guys next to me so it was one of those decisions where it was a matter of time, where I felt comfortable to do it and yesterday was the day.”
And while he has been touted as the club’s next captain by coach Ken Hinkley, he said that didn’t play a role in his contract discussions.
Wines, who has played 119 games since debuting against Melbourne in Round 1, 2013, has demonstrated his leadership and maturity beyond his years in 2018, but said he still had much to learn from captain Travis Boak.
“That’s pretty flattering to hear from Kenny but if I’ve got aspirations to captain the club down the track, which I would love to do one day, but at this stage playing under Boaky, learning off him, they’ve brought some incredible leadership into the club this year as well – learning off Tommy Rockliff, Jack Trengove, these type of guys, that’s not on my mind at the moment.
I’m just sort of playing the best footy I can play and those things will take care of themselves, but that wasn’t really a reason in making the decision.”
Instead he said feeling at home and part of the Port Adelaide family was a key consideration.
“We’ve got a tradition of being a family orientated club,” Wines said.
“As soon as you’re drafted to the club you’re one of us and your family is taken in.
“There hasn’t been a day where I have not felt like I belonged at Port Adelaide and along with that all the fans we get to play in front of at this magnificent stadium.
“Since 1870 we’ve got a lot of tradition and it’s good to be a part of that and write your name into it.”
Tom Jonas and Darcy Byrne-Jones each trained today and will push to play in Friday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne, but Wines said given each had some hamstring tightness, no risks would be taken.
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