At the end of 2019, Ollie Wines was on the verge of leaving Port Adelaide and returning home to Victoria.
Two years on and he's become the Power's first-ever Brownlow Medalist.
The 26-year-old midfielder took out the AFL's highest individual honour with a record-equalling 36 votes, overcoming Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (33) and Demons star Clayton Oliver (31) in a count for the ages.
Wines polled votes in 16 of his 22 games this year, which is an AFL record, and stormed home in the back half of the season with votes in 11 of Port Adelaide's final 12 games to capture the prize.
It comes off the back of a stellar season in which he featured in all 24 of Port Adelaide's games, averaging 32.4 possessions, 5.9 clearances and 4.4 tackles.
"I'm a little bit numb at the moment. It probably hasn't sunk in," Wines told Port Adelaide media.
"I'm incredibly honoured to win this award, I think of the names to come before that have won it, guys I've idolised from day one not just for my career but my life.
"I'm still looking at it and pinching myself. It's very special."
The victory offers a stunning perspective to the 182-gamer's rise over the past two years.
Wines was at a crossroads after Port Adelaide's 2019 season, at one stage seeking a trade home to Victoria despite being under contract.
It followed a year disrupted by several injuries, starting with a dislocated shoulder as a result of a water skiing accident in the pre-season, that would limit Wines to just 12 games.
Wines was then dumped as co-captain of the club after one year in the role.
After the club opted not to entertain the trade, Wines stayed on and in the meantime has elevated his game to place him amongst the AFL's most elite midfielders.
He has since re-signed with Port Adelaide until the end of 2026, declaring he was beyond thankful that he stayed put.
"They never wanted to me to leave. It was probably myself thinking perhaps I've got to go somewhere else to get more out of my career," Wines told reporters at the Brownlow Medal on Sunday night.
"To the club's credit they didn't let me... and I'm thankful to this day, despite not winning a premiership or not playing in a grand final at this stage.
"I'm incredibly proud to still be at the club and glad I didn't go anywhere."
Ollie Wines' last three seasons is a lesson in perseverance:
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 19, 2021
⚡️ badly injured in a water skiing accident
⚡️ back-to-back interrupted pre-seasons
⚡️ lost captaincy
⚡️ rumours of him going back to Victoria
⚡️ overlooked at selection
And now he's a Brownlow medallist. pic.twitter.com/Ipcm0ZHy1O
Now Wines can't see himself leaving Port Adelaide as they pursue premiership success that eluded them this year, following the humiliating 71-point preliminary final loss to the Bulldogs.
"I saw in a few of those retirement speeches (about) what they'll miss most, and it's being in the locker room with the boys, and I can't see myself anywhere else," he added.
"We've formed a bond that's closer than most, and that's been a key to our success over the last couple of years, and I just want to be a part of that."
