Two of the AFL's contest kings are set for a Showdown
IT'S A battle that would have fans of classic cinema drooling with anticipation: Ollie 'Quadzilla' Wines going head to head with Patrick 'The Raging Bull' Dangerfield.
Saturday's Showdown between Port Adelaide and Adelaide could see the sides' contested possession kings face off – a prospect Wines said he'd embrace.
The 19-year-old collected 28 disposals (19 contested), booted two goals and laid nine tackles against Carlton in a spectacular start to his second season in the AFL.
Dangerfield also booted two goals in his first showing of the year, but close checking from Geelong's Cam Guthrie restricted him to 21 touches (17 contested) last Thursday.
Wines denied the Power would target Dangerfield at Adelaide Oval as the Cats did, nor would they try "to pick him off in any way".
But, if it came to it, he'd would back himself in a one-on-one battle against the competition's most explosive player.
"I'm pretty confident to go against most players so I'd definitely go out there and give it a crack and hope to get out on top," Wines said.
"We'll be going out there to prove a physical battle and hopefully get over the top of them."
Wines said after speaking to Port's midfield coach Phil Walsh, he had taken responsibility to become the club's inside enforcer.
His 19 contested possessions against the Blues was the fourth highest tally in round one and seven more than Port's next best in Travis Boak (12).
The imposing youngster is leaner in 2014, albeit heavier, and he said a second pre-season would mean his best would last further into the season than what was possible last year.
"He's (Walsh) really put it on me to make sure I own the stoppages and own first possession and we've done a lot of work over the off season," he said.
"Even now we're still doing it to make sure I can consolidate that and win as many first possessions as I can.
"I might be a touch heavier, but I've lost a lot of body fat so I've got a lot more muscle this year.
"I've also got a lot more conditioning in my body to run out games longer and quicker."
As one of the thickest-legged players running around, Wines is quickly turning into one of the League's best-known cult heroes.
He laughed off the 'Quadzilla' tag, but said he took no issue with his growing cult status.
"I don't mind, it's how I play my footy so if that develops me into a cult figure then let it be," he said.
"But I'm just going out there to try and play my role for the team and try to do the best I can."
Port Adelaide will release at least 500 tickets for Saturday's Showdown from midday on Wednesday, of which about 250 will be for standing room only.
There is room at Adelaide Oval for about 3000 standing spectators, taking the overall capacity to 53,000.
The club is confident this weekend's game will break the Showdown crowd record, set in round five, 2003, when 51,140 saw the Power home by 12 points.
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