Port flex muscles on Swans as Wines suffers heart issue
Port Adelaide have withstood a late Sydney surge to claim an eight-point win in their preliminary final rematch, despite losing Ollie Wines to a recurrent heart problem.
Wines was substituted out of the match at halftime with an irregular heartbeat before Port posted a 13.7 (85) to 10.17 (77) result at the SCG on Saturday.
The 2021 Brownlow medallist had tried to continue playing after engaging in long discussions with the Power's doctor in the second quarter.
But Wines withdrew soon after, replaced by club debutant Rory Atkins.
Wines has managed his heart condition since being diagnosed in 2022 and was last subbed out of a match in last year's round 10 win over Hawthorn.
Rioli roves it perfectly for his third!#AFLSwansPower pic.twitter.com/z749EWHk5c
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2025
In his absence, Port skipper Connor Rozee (one goal, 27 disposals) again proved damaging, so much so that Swans tagger James Jordon was moved off his post at quarter-time.
Zak Butters also dominated with 27 disposals and seven clearances.
Willie Rioli, after a difficult week as the latest Indigenous AFL star to be racially abused, kicked three goals to help keep Sydney winless at their home ground this season.
Rioli was at the source of the opening major, releasing to Mitch Georgiades (three goals) inside-50, who then spotted an unmanned Sam Powell-Pepper (two) in the goal square.
Swans defender Nick Blakey was too slow to read the play, with Powell-Pepper easily slotting.
Isaac Heeney (two goals) pulled off a superb six-pointer from the pocket to reply but the visitors remained on top, enjoying a 4.2 (26) to 1.2 (8) lead at quarter time.
Desperate to stop the Port ascendancy, Swans boss Dean Cox moved to the bench in the second term and called Blakey, Justin McInerney, Oliver Florent and Hayden McLean into a mid-quarter huddle.
Blakey took Cox's words to heart and pulled off three electric runs down the corridor, but he fluffed his shots at goal.
Port midfielder Willem Drew slotted a goal within 10 seconds of the second half siren before the Swans came to life to kick three-straight majors.
Swans substitute Aaron Francis then kicked three consecutive goals himself in the final term to help reduce the deficit to 16 points.
It became 10 when McClean goaled in the 31st minute but while surging, the Swans could add only three more behinds as their comeback fell short.
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