Footy coach gives update on star who was forced to leave the pitch due to recurring medical condition: ‘My heart is doing a few silly things’
Ken Hinkley has insisted Port Adelaide have Ollie Wines’ heart condition ‘well under control’ after the 2021 Brownlow Medallist was substituted during his side’s eight-point victory against Sydney Swans on Sunday.
It is the third time in four seasons that the 30-year-old has been forced to exit a match due to an irregularity in his pulse, with Wines being subbed out of today’s clash at the SCG in place of Rory Atkins.
First, Wines had been seen speaking to medics in the Power dugout before stepping back onto the field for several minutes.
He would later come from the field due to an irregularity that causes palpitations.
Last year, the footy star, who was first diagnosed with the condition back in 2022, had undergone a surgical procedure on his heart to remedy the problem.
After following the advice of doctors and undergoing treatment, Wines was hopeful that the problem wouldn’t persist.
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
Hinkley insisted that Port Adelaide’s doctors had the condition ‘well under control’
Hinkley, meanwhile, revealed what Wines had told the coaching bench after coming from the footy pitch, adding that the club was managing the problem diligently.
‘To the best of my knowledge Ollie had another one of his little episodes on his heart, which our doctors have had well under control,’ Hinkley said.
‘In the past, he has had a procedure to look after that, obviously, it came back today.
‘We have a good handle on it but that doesn’t mean that we won’t stop exploring what we need to do to support Ollie through that.’
Hinkley also gave a positive update on Wines’ condition.
‘He is pretty comfortable in the rooms, he came back out onto the bench, the good thing is that while, unfortunately, he has experienced it, he knows how to react to it.
‘He self-diagnosed, he comes off and says: “My heart is doing a few silly things at the moment”. It sounds really bad, I don’t mean to talk about someone’s heart, but the reality is he has a good handle on it, our medical team has an incredibly good handle on it.
‘We feel safe enough around what is going on and we will make sure we will do all the tests this week.’
Wines (pictured with partner Olivia) had been managing the condition with advice from medical experts
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.’
Wines took eight disposals and four marks in the first quarter, as Hinkley’s side took an early lead on the Swans.
‘He would much prefer that it is not happening, we would too, but the reality is that it is going on a little bit,’ Hinkley added.
‘But we feel like we have a good handle on what needs to happen.
‘He is just a little frustrated about what happened.’
Jon Ralph, meanwhile, shed more light on the condition while speaking to Fox Footy on Sunday.
‘The heart issues he’s suffered since 2022 have seen him reassured by his cardiologist it’s not life-threatening,’ Ralph said.
It is understood that Wines (left) had gone into the changing rooms after the match to receive treatment and was ‘pretty comfortable’ after being subbed off
‘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.’
