Two teams, a gulf in fortunes: Port cheer Wines as Crows hedge bets
It was a ‘tale of two teams’ for South Australia’s AFL clubs today, with Port Adelaide celebrating the long-term retention of its presumptive ‘captain-in-waiting’, while the Crows’ season sinks further into the mire as star Eddie Betts faces another stint on the sidelines.
The finals-bound Power last night confirmed in-demand midfielder Ollie Wines had spurned big-money overtures from his home state of Victoria to sign with Port for another four years, declaring his “firm belief in where the club is heading, the playing group it’s formed and the support off-field”.
Facing media today, Wines pointedly described mentor Ken Hinkley as like a “father figure to so many of us”, saying the coach staying on was a major factor in his own decision, which will see him contracted till 2022, past his first free agency window in two years’ time.
“It’s becoming like a business – you’ve got to do the right thing for you,” he said.
“Obviously there was a home-state pull back to Melbourne, or staying with the club that gave you the opportunity.
“On what I base myself around, and how I live my life, it was a pretty easy decision.”
He also noted it was a decision that “shows where the club’s at”.
“I think we’re pretty set up for the next four years – so why not commit now?” he said.
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It was a marked contrast to the news emanating from the Power’s cross-town rival, with Betts – hamstrung for the second time this year – sidelined for four weeks, backup ruckman Reilly O’Brien put on ice for the season after shoulder surgery and Crows CEO Andrew Fagan forced to publicly address members’ “frustration and disappointment” after a four-game losing streak culminating “in an uncharacteristic and underwhelming performance against Hawthorn on Saturday” has put the club almost out of finals contention.
Fagan hinted at structural changes amid persistent off-field controversies surrounding the Crows’ now-infamous pre-season camp and repeated suggestions star players, including vice-captain Rory Sloane and emerging forward Mitch McGovern, want out at season’s end – a point ironically underlined by Port’s overnight re-signing of Wines.
Ollie Wines lays a tackle against the Bulldogs. Photo: Michael Errey / InDaily
“At this time of year it is standard practice for our club’s key staff to review their respective areas of operation with a view to finding opportunities for further growth and improvement,” he wrote in an evening missive to members, also published on the club’s website.
“This year the review process clearly has a greater emphasis.
“When the players and coaches return from a few days away from the club, they will share their learnings and recommendations and finalise the program for the back half of the season… this is an important process that we hope will enable us to launch into the remainder of the season with renewed energy and focus.”
Fagan said it was “reasonable for fans and media to speculate” about the reasons behind the Crows’ stunning fall from grace after a Grand Final loss last season, but denied there was a single “specific factor or issue” behind it.
He also decried “a few extravagant theories” – on which he didn’t elaborate – but noted that “in high performance programs it is never a single thing that drives outstanding performance and similarly it is not a single fix to address underperformance”.
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“We are competitive, but not immune to pressure and certainly recognise the tough position we find ourselves in,” wrote Fagan.
“The competition is fierce, challenges are ever-present, equalisation works, pressure is immense and media coverage intense. But equally it is that environment which drives the people associated with our club to come to work each day with a steely determination to improve, develop and deliver against our significant expectations and those of our passionate and invested members and fans.”
Betts, who was one of the senior players understood to be deeply unhappy with the Collective Mind-run Gold Coast camp – a point underlined by Crows chairman Rob Chapman just last week – told FIVEaa today he was “frustrated” to hurt his hamstring again after a near-faultless injury run in his first four years at the club.
But it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the club, with a spate of injuries adding to its on-field woes, and facing the league’s top two teams – West Coast and Richmond – immediately after this week’s bye.
“I’m being as positive as I can be, knowing the next three games are super important to us,” Betts said.
“We’ve got a curse somehow,” he joked.
“Someone’s got a voodoo doll of me and is slicing my legs…
“[But] all you can do now is put your head down and bum up… and support the boys as much as possible off the field.”
“That’s life, now I have to move on.”
Betts said embattled coach Don Pyke had been “relaxed” after the Hawks loss, urging his players to “have a mental break” during the week off.
“We’ve just been focussing on what we can control and that’s our game plan… we know we have some stuff to work on and we know we’re not playing our best footy,” he said.
“I want to start winning because winning creates a fun environment. When you’re losing and you keep losing it drains you and it brings the group down.”
