Former Port Adelaide player and current media commentator Kane Cornes has suggested the Power should abide by their namesake and consider strong trade options for captain Ollie Wines.
Speaking on SEN SA Breakfast, Cornes said that although it might be a sensitive issue, he would opt to trade the team's leader, 24-year-old Wines, for a first-round draft pick to improve their outside running performance.
“I’d have that conversation with Ollie, even though he is the captain of the footy club," Cornes said.
“Clearly he’s got a long-term deal at the club and he can refute any trade, I’m not sure if he would do that or not, but he’s another name that I would look at.
“If someone came and said here’s a first-round pick for Ollie Wines, absolutely I would be taking that.
“I’d then be doing something with that pick. Whether it’s going to the draft and getting another young player or then on-trading that to get some experience in for some outside run and speed.
“In the space of two years, if Port Adelaide loses Karl Amon, Jasper Pittard, Jared Polec and Chad Wingard, all players with outside attributes and ball use, you’ve got to replace them somehow. You don’t need the inside midfielders they’ve got.
“I know that’s radical and shocking to some people, but it’s a ruthless business and I’d look at it. You’ve got to get some outside run and speed into that club.”
It comes in what Cornes describes as a potential offset solution for losing Wingard, Pittard and Polec, plus the likely defection of Karl Amon who originally sought a trade last year.
He also cited Sam Powell-Pepper as a logical trade candidate, perhaps to his home state of Western Australia.
A fan favourite, Wines is contracted until the end of 2022 and Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has previously said he's the type of young player they could build the club around.
He also defended Wines's output earlier this year when on July 2nd he told SEN Radio, "he has been a pretty consistent player over a long period of time at our footy club."
However, Wines was also dropped from the senior squad at times in a disappointing season marred by injuries and poor form.
Instead of getting guys who can’t get games in their own side and are traded to the Suns a s experienced AFL players, if what Cornes is saying is correct then the Suns should be throwing the kitchen sink to trade in Wines given his age experience and ability.
Unfortunately I do not think it will come to anything and Wines and his waterskis will remain at Port.