THE MATURITY shown by Ollie Wines – for a player of just 49 games – is unlike anything skipper Travis Boak has seen at Port Adelaide.
Wines was elevated into the club's leadership group on Wednesday, replacing Angus Monfries and Robbie Gray, while Matthew Lobbe was appointed as joint vice-captain with Brad Ebert.
The powerful third-year midfielder joined Boak, Ebert, Lobbe, as well as fellow leadership group members Tom Jonas, Jackson Trengove and Hamish Hartlett.
Wines hasn't missed a game since making his debut for the Power in round one, 2013, after being drafted the previous November with pick No.7.
The 20-year-old won back-to-back Wanganeen medals as Port's best player aged under 21 in his first two seasons and remains eligible for a third in 2015.
Last year he averaged 24 disposals a game and was his club's third most prolific contested possession winner behind Boak and Robbie Gray.
Boak said Wines was an obvious leader.
"It's scary to think what he can become and not only the player but, as we're seeing now, with the leadership he can bring," he said.
"He's stepped straight in and been so demanding of others and it doesn’t matter who it is; if we're at a stoppage and I'm not in the right spot he'll tell me what to do.
"It's just a credit to him, credit to his family and the person he is, as soon as he stepped through these doors you knew he was a quality person."
Nicknamed 'Quadzilla' shortly after arriving at Alberton, Wines has slimmed down over the pre-season in the hope of boosting his running power.
He weighed in at 94kg last year but plans to shed a few kilograms for 2015.
Ollie Wines has proven a star in his two seasons at the highest level. Picture: AFL Media
Boak said he had already seen improvement in the youngster's outside game as a direct result of the lost weight.
"His running ability's gone to another level ... Ollie's certainly set the standard. Right from Dubai he was constantly checking his numbers because that was one area he wanted to improve in," he said.
"He's got the inside and outside ... that's where Ollie's really learning his game."
It will be Lobbe's first year as vice-captain and is a significant tick of approval after his stellar 2014 campaign.
He shouldered the bulk of the ruck duties last year to great effect and ranked fourth in the league for both tackles and total hit-outs.
The decision to promote the 25-year-old was about recognising his significant contribution rather than filling the need for a second deputy.
"It's more about 'Lobbes' and [it's] a big tick for what he's been able to do and been able to achieve," Boak said.
In more positive news for the Power, Boak backed injured star Chad Wingard to return to training shortly.
Wingard refused to speculate last week on his possible return from knee surgery but his captain predicted he could play a trial game before round one.
"He's starting to do a lot more now. Obviously there was a little mishap there with the knee but it was just minor surgery," Boak said.
"He'll probably be out for a little bit longer and then hopefully come in for some games and then hopefully right for round one."
Matthew Lobbe shouldered the ruck load with aplomb in 2014. Picture: AFL Media
