PORT ADELAIDE'S General Manager – Football, Chris Davies spoke with the media at a press conference at Alberton Oval on Tuesday afternoon.
Below are the key takeaway from the presser.
Davies on Ollie Wines injuring his shoulder at training:
“Last Wednesday at training he just leant down for a ball and a player on the opposing team in our match simulation did the same thing and he just landed on it.
“It’s a slight dislocation that has meant Ollie has had to have surgery yesterday, which has been successful to stabilise the joint.
“It is a surgery that would suggest he will be out for the early part of the season. He had a similar type surgery the same time last year, so I’d imagine he would be back around the same time.
“Right now, the most important part is to get him back into training at an appropriate time where he can start to do some contact work close to when the season starts.”
Davies on Wines recent luck with injuries
“It’s just unlucky - I don’t think, looking back at the footage of the incident, there would’ve been anyone who would have a different outcome.
“It’s disappointing for him, but all he can do now is get it done and approach his rehab in a professional way.
“He would’ve gone through all of the emotions. You go through a period of anger. Devastation I imagine.
“He’s now certainly in a position where he has come to terms with what’s happened. He’s an absolute professional and once he gets through the post-surgery haze, he will be thinking what’s next for him and how he can come back bigger and better.”
Davies on Wines commitment to his injury rehabilitation:
“He’s the type of guy who really pushes as well, that’s why I’m hesitant to put any dates on it at the moment.
“The reality is that he will work as hard as he possibly can to get back as soon as he can. The coaches will have to balance that with when’s right for him to come back.
“He will work hard. He will get back as soon as he possibly can, and when he’s back we need to make sure he’s right.”
Davies on how Wines’ injury will affect team selection:
“The challenge for our coaching group this year is as much about picking a team is balanced with the way we want to play.
“We are obviously really disappointed with Ollie getting injured, but at the same time we have other players who play a similar type of role, who we have a heap of confidence in.
“If he was to miss games at the start of the year when the first team gets picked at AFL level, we have players who can do the job for us.”
Davies on Port Adelaide’s midfield depth:
“We have a lot of players who can go through those types of roles.
“Ebert missed half of last year, who you would say is a direct replacement. We also want to add some guys like Rozee and Butters to that group.
“Karl Amon can go inside and out. Mayes has been training outstandingly well so far. Duursma is going to have the ability to go inside as well.
“With the mix of the guys - it will be really interesting to see what we end up with. Training right now is the best indicator of what we’ve got.
“It’s a really exciting group.”
Davies on the effects of shoulder surgery:
“As it was last year, there was no need to do any further operation after the operation that he had. Obviously this is the other shoulder and the surgery that he’s had is to clear the issue up.
“How his rehab goes will obviously determine what happens in the future, but there is no suggestion right now that he needs to have any further surgery to fix up this issue
“This is sort this out now and get it right for when he comes back, and when he comes back he’ll be ready to go.”
Davies on when Wines will return from injury:
“I think that it is highly unlikely that Ollie is available for round one, but he’s will approach his rehab in a really professional way.
“I know he will be back as quick as anyone can possibly get back from this type of surgery.”
Davies on the progress of Port Adelaide’s draftees:
“I think the top four guys that we picked in the draft are positioning themselves pretty well for the start of our season.
“Georgiades has taken some really good marks and shown why the guys were so keen to draft him – his hands are outstanding.
“You’ve got Miles Bergman who is athletically fantastic and can get on the end of things.
“Mead, who will have that ability to play mid/forward, is another one of the guys that you add into the mix now that’s potentially closer to a game than if Ollie was available
“Dylan Williams right now you would suggest that his strength isn’t not necessarily his running so he is eager for the balls to come out and make sure that we see his footy ability.”
Davies on draftees’ readiness to play AFL football:
“All of those guys have really impressed. They’re all body-wise looking clearly like they’re physically capable of competing.
“If you rewind 12 months you would’ve seen three guys that you would’ve thought were a little undersized. I think if you look this year at the four that have come in this year, you’d certainly say they’re more physically ready.
“I’m excited for those guys to be pushing.”
Davies on the health of Port Adelaide’s playing list:
“Outside of Ollie, we’ve got a really healthy list.
“If we selected our first team at the moment we’d probably have 43 available.
“To have a healthy list at this time of year is great.”
Davies on the progress of Willem Drew and Jack Watts:
“Willem Drew has just got back into main training.
“You probably look at him as one of those guys that might be eyeing a spot with Ollie out.
“Drewy’s come back in really good nick, he’ll certainly be pushing for a spot early in the year.
“Jack Watts is back in training. Right now he’ll be available for next Friday night.
“We’ll look at whatever management is needed from there.
“He’s done everything he possible can to position himself in a good spot for 2020.”
Davies on playing in Shanghai:
“We are progressing as if the game is going ahead.
“From my perspective, my responsibility to China is to make sure logistically the players and the coaches are able to get over there and do all the things that they need to do.
“There are decisions that the club are going to need to make down the track, but my primary concern is for logistics of the team and also their health.
“I know on the health factor the club and the AFL are absolutely behind that as well.
“We will take advice from Government and health organisations as well.
“Having some experience in this type of stuff back in cricket it is really important that as much as you possibly can to take the emotion out of the situation and deal with the facts that are in front of you.
“I am sure the club is going through exactly that at the moment. “