- Ollie Wines had undergone surgery for a heart condition in December last year
- The footy star was substituted out of Port Adelaide’s clash vs Sydney Swans
Concerning scenes unfolded at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday as Ollie Wines was substituted out of Port Adelaide’s 10.17 (77) to 13.7 (85) victory against Sydney Swans due to a heart condition.
It came after the 30-year-old midfielder was seen having long discussions with doctors in the Port Adelaide dug-out before going back onto the footy pitch.
He lasted several minutes on the field before Port activated their substitution, with Rory Atkins coming on to replace him.
Fox Sports reporter Alastair Lynch, reporting from the touchline, stated that the precaution to sub him out of the match was due to ‘heart rhythm issues’.
Lynch then stated that while any condition relating to the heart is a ‘serious issue’ he added that the Port doctors were ‘very comfortable with where he is at’. It was later revealed by Port’s general manager of football Chris Davies that Wines was feeling much better having received medical treatment in the rooms.
The 2021 Brownlow Medallist was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2022 and had been subbed out of a game against Melbourne that year and taken to hospital. The issue appeared to reoccur last year during the Power’s clash against Hawthorn where he was again substituted.
Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines, 30, was subbed out of his side’s match against Sydney
It is understood that the midfielder had been struggling with a heart rhythm condition, which he has previously undergone surgery for
In February, Wines announced told Adelaide Now that he had undergone a surgical procedure to help correct the issue, having been managing the problem with expert advice.
‘I had something done pre-Christmas so as far as I’m concerned, it’s all fixed,’ Wines said.
‘I shouldn’t have the problem ever again.’
Since that match against Melbourne in Round Five of 2022 Wines has gone on to play 25 matches, five of which have come this year.
Speaking on the condition, Wines said in 2022: ‘It’s more a heart rhythm issue that is pretty common in elderly people and elite athletes.
‘Once it was explained to me it was very docand there’s not too many long-term effects.’
Wines took eighth disposals and four marks in the first quarter, as Ken Hinkley’s side took an early lead on the Swans.
At three-quarter time, Port’s general manager Davies delivered a promising update on Wines’ condition.
Wines (pictured with partner Olivia) had been managing the condition with advice from medical experts
‘Ollie had a bit of a heart flutter in that second quarter,’ Davies said.
‘He’s in the rooms now, feeling far better. But it’s something he’s had to manage over time. He knows that he’s got to take himself out of the game when these things happen.
‘Only concern is that we’re worried about Ollie’s health. Right now he’s back to normal in the rooms. And I’m sure he’ll go through what he needs to go through this week and potentially be available for next week.’
Jon Ralph shed more light on the condition while speaking to Fox Footy.
‘The heart issues he’s suffered since 2022 have seen him reassured by his cardiologist it’s not life-threatening,’ Ralph said.
‘It’s certainly not career-threatening but that doesn’t mean it’s not extremely scary when it happens to him.
‘We saw it in 2022 – he complained of heart palpitations, of dizziness and nausea. He only missed a single week then against Carlton and he returned against West Coast and had 33 possessions and a goal.
‘Medications did quickly get it under control – but he had to miss that week.
‘I think the question here is not whether it jeopardizes his career – it’s whether his misses against North Melbourne next week.
‘It goes without saying this club will not risk him (Wines) in any way.
“You think potentially he misses a week and then if he can get the tick off from his cardiologist it might be he’s back quite quickly – as worrying as this episode was today.’
