Reigning Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines has admitted to feeling “rattled” by expectation after clinching the game’s top individual honour.
The gun Port Adelaide midfielder says he’s no longer shaken by the tag as his side zeroes in on a first-round match against Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night, but he said his triumph had unsettled him and that “good conversations” had helped ease his mind.
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“If you probably asked me a month ago I was probably a little bit rattled with it and perhaps the expectations,” Wines said.
“But I’ve had some good conservations with some people and I’ve been able to reset my mind to putting it behind me.
“That’s all in the past.
“Despite wearing that tag, it doesn’t define who I am now and the player I am now.”
Wines polled 36 votes to eclipse Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (33) and Melbourne jet Clayton Oliver (31).
Wines is Port Adelaide’s only Brownlow medallist in history.
In an ominous warning to his rivals, the 27-year-old said he’d become a better player over the summer.
“Finishing off handballs, driving through tackles,” Wines said when asked how he’d improved.
“Just really little things that I’ve continued to work on and put the work into that I think are going to keep me on my toes and keep me improving.”
Wines will square off with 2020 Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale when the Power and Lions meet this week.
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