PORT Adelaide vice-captain Ollie Wines knew the threat was real – be accountable defensively or find yourself out of the side.
Power coach Ken Hinkley summoned the 22-year-old tough inside midfielder into his office after the side's round 13 loss to Fremantle last year.
"It was the defensive side of my game that was letting me down and costing the team," Wines told AFL.com.au from the Power's Australia Post Community Camp from the Riverland.
"We had a serious conversation and I had to correct a few issues.
"It was probably the first time Kenny's really had that conversation with me.
"It was a little bit overawing at first, but I know Kenny did it for the right reasons and he wants to make myself and the team better.
"Once I realised I was a little bit offensive-orientated, I made the correction and was on the right track."
Wines took the advice on board while still having an impact with the ball.
In the Power's first game after his chat with Hinkley, Wines collected 27 possessions, had 10 inside 50s and laid nine tackles in his side's round 15 win against Richmond.
Wines enjoyed a brilliant finish to the season – averaging 30.3 possessions per game in the final six rounds – to finish runner-up to three-time Power best and fairest Robbie Gray.
But the key to his improved form was knowing when to charge after the ball and when to shut down an opposition player.
"I tend to watch the ball a little bit too much, sort of always being brought up playing junior footy, just being told to hunt the ball, go find the ball," he said.
"In the AFL where everyone is the best of the best, you can't always do that.
"At times, you've got to find a man and you've got to know when you can't impact the ball.
"Unfortunately, my balance early in the year was off a little bit with that.
"I like honest feedback and Ken's not one to not give honest feedback, so it's brilliant.
"We need more of it if we're going to improve and hopefully charge up the ladder."
Hailing from the country Victorian town of Echuca, Wines understands the importance of AFL clubs visiting regional areas.
The Power visited various towns in the SA Riverland region, including Berri, while several players spent time in Broken Hill in far-west NSW.
"I was in a similar boat growing up being a fair way from Melbourne," Wines said.
"It would almost be the highlight of the month having your role models come up and teaching you things.
"I used to barrack for Carlton, and I remember Carlton coming up and Andrew Walker, who was the hometown hero, he'd just been drafted, I remember doing a clinic with them.
"That always helped me love football more seeing those guys give their time up for us kids."
Wines is raring to go for the Power's intraclub trial at Alberton Oval on Friday ahead of their first game in the JLT Community Series against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Thursday, February 23.
