PORT ADELAIDE vice-captain Ollie Wines has closed to within five votes of the leader in the AFL Coaches Association AFL Champion Player of the Year Award after another stand-out performance against St Kilda.
After failing to poll any votes in last week’s loss to Melbourne, Wines put in a best on ground showing to claim the perfect ten votes from the coaches against the Saints.
The midfield bull was dominant around the contest and stood up in the last quarter when the game was on the line to register 13 disposals and six clearances.
He had 36 touches, 18 contested possessions, five marks, five tackles and eleven clearances to stamp his authority on a tight contest.
Wines’ teammates dominated the votes with four-goal forward Mitch Georgiades grabbing five, defenders Trent McKenzie (four votes) and Ryan Burton (three) also polling, along with midfielder Karl Amon (two).
Saints Jack Steele (five votes) and Rowan Marshall (one) also attracted the attention of the coaches.
Wines was one of five players to score the maximum ten votes across the competition along with Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt, Carlton’s Sam Walsh, West Coast’s Jamie Cripps and Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell.
The latest votes leave Wines just five votes behind joint leaders Marcus Bontempelli and Clayton Oliver with five games to play.
Round 18 – votes v St Kilda
10 votes – Wines (PA)
5 votes – Georgiades (PA), Steele (St K)
4 votes – McKenzie (PA)
3 votes – Burton (PA)
2 votes – Amon (PA)
1 vote – Marshall (St K)
Overall leader board
85 votes – Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
83 votes –Touk Miller (Gold Coast), Sam Walsh (Carlton)
80 votes – Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
75 votes - Jack Steele (St Kilda)
70 votes – Darcy Parish (Essendon),
68 votes - Zach Merrett (Essendon)
60 votes – David Mundy (Fremantle)
57 votes – Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
56 votes – Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
55 votes - Max Gawn (Melbourne), Nic Naitanui (West Coast)
51 votes - Rory Laird (Adelaide)
