PORT Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines is set for a "significant" stint on the sidelines after suffering an arm injury in the thrilling final quarter of the Power's eight-point win over North Melbourne.
Wines, who was earlier involved in a marking collision that sent Kangaroos midfielder Jack Ziebell to hospital, had to cradle his right arm as he walked to the changerooms aided by medical staff early in the last term.
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It was the only sour point from the superb Power win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, which was the club's first for the season after two losses to open its 2015 campaign.
However, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley fears he will be without the star midfielder for some time with the early indications not promising.
"It will be significant I think. He's off to hospital. I'd suggest he's got either a dislocated [or] perhaps fractured wrist or arm. We won't really know, but it's an extended time on the sidelines," Hinkley said post-game.
"He's been outstanding for us in his two-and-a-bit years at the footy club, so when he came off with a sore arm I knew there was something serious, because Ollie don't come off."
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The 20-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant start to his career since joining the club via the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, playing 52 consecutive games including five finals.
But the injury appears likely to sideline Wines for at least a month in the first fitness setback of his career.
"It's quite incredible what he's been able to do. But he'll get those challenges, he'll bounce back and work really hard at his rehab and get back as soon as possible. And as soon as he's ready we'll play him," Hinkley said.
In a brilliant and brutal game, the Power led by 15 points midway through the last term before the Kangaroos held a five-point lead at the 24-minute mark.
But goals to Aaron Young and Kane Mitchell lifted the Power to their breakthrough 2015 win after losses to Fremantle and the Sydney Swans to start the season.
Hinkley identified Young as a readymade replacement for Wines as an inside midfielder.
Next week the Power face Hawthorn – meaning they will have played four of last year's top-six teams in the first four rounds – but Hinkley expects the challenging start to the year to have a lasting effect.
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"Our boys have been put through the wringer a little bit early. That's going to hold them in really good stead. It's going to make them stronger, harder and ready to play," Hinkley said.
"You hear the good sides always talking about the best opposition being great for you, it gets you there and gets you ready to keep playing strong footy.
"The damage is sometimes what you have to deal with and you have to be able to ride it out and just find a way to get a win. To the boys' credit they did that tonight.
He described the win as "confirmation" for the players that if they can win the ball around the contests and take the clearances, then their much-heralded running game will flow from there.
He said Kane Cornes (rested for the Kangaroos clash) would return to face the Hawks next Saturday night at Adelaide Oval and ruckman Matthew Lobbe will face a fitness test mid-week in his bid to overcome a quad injury.
