Highly-rated AFL midfield prospect Oliver Wines won’t be too fussed if his wish to play alongside good mate Jack Viney at Melbourne is denied, saying the chance to take him on would be the next best thing.
The Demons, who have pick No.4, had been considered a probable destination for the hard-at-it youngster from the northern Victorian town of Echuca.
But with exciting South Australian Jimmy Toumpas considered likely to slip to that pick, Wines is not expected to join friend and Demons’ father-son pick Viney, although he said he had not been counting on it anyway.
“I’m not pinning any hopes on playing with Jack one day,” Wines told reporters on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
“I’m just looking for an AFL club to give me an opportunity to play AFL football.
“If it is Melbourne, I’ll be over the moon.
“But any club that gives me an opportunity, I’ll be grateful for.”
The Western Bulldogs have picks No.5 and No.6, meaning Wines could end up there, although he said clubs had not given him any indication.
But asked who he would most like to line up against in the AFL, he picked fellow fierce competitor Viney.
“I’d love to line up against Jack and go head-to-head with him,” he said.
“I think it would be a fair contest.”
Toumpas, who has attracted plenty of plaudits since being a key part of Woodville-West Torrens’ SANFL premiership side in 2011, was also not concerned where he ended up.
He said he would be delighted to join the Demons, even though they are potentially facing major penalties over allegations of past tanking and finished this year near the bottom of the ladder.
“It doesn’t matter to me at all – it’s an AFL club,” Toumpas said.
“I’ve heard awesome things about it. The culture’s improving. There’s great players there – young players are delivering really well.
“None of that (tanking investigation) really fusses me too much.”