Port Adelaide have publicly defended Ollie Wines' right to enjoy recreational activities after the midfielder suffered a dislocated shoulder in a water skiing accident.
Wines was water skiing near Mannum with several teammates on Australia Day when he dislocated his right shoulder.
The 24-year-old had an arthroscopy on Tuesday, a procedure which inserts staples into the shoulder to stabilise the joint.
Wines is expected to return early in the home-and-away season.
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However, the severity of the incident has sparked a widespread debate about whether AFL players should be allowed to partake in extreme sports in their free time.
Speaking in a press conference, Port Adelaide football manager Chris Davies said that Wine has the full support of the club to pursue these recreational passions as they are entitled to a life outside football.
“I know that there’s been a lot of talk about whether he should or shouldn’t have been out there, but let’s be clear - our view as a club is that we value the guys having time away from the club and spending time together,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
“They need an outlet. We’re really comfortable with Ollie doing what he did, outside of the fact that he got injured.
“Ollie is a guy who loves his skiing. He is a light plane pilot. We’ve got other guys who like to ride motorbikes, others who like to ride go-karts.
“We’re not going to stop them doing their own thing in their own time.
“Clearly, we want them to take as much care as they can but at the same time, we’re not here to rule their lives."
Wines was expected to be announced as the club’s new captain before the incident occured, but Davies went on to clarify that the injury won't influence their decision.
"He’s been skiing since he was six years of age and hasn’t had a hiccup in all of that time," Davies continued.
“We’re not going to hang him on something like this.
“We’re going through a process from a captaincy perspective that we’ll work through over the next few weeks but if Ollie’s in contention, this incident is not going to make any difference as to whether he’s the captain of our club or not.”
However, the AFL Standard Playing Contract dictates that there are strict limitations to what activities players can take part in away from the field. Players agree 'not to engage in any dangerous or hazardous activity, including, but not limited to, motor cycle riding, hang gliding, parachuting or bungee jumping, which, in the reasonable opinion of the Club, may affect the Player’s ability to perform his/her obligations.'
While water skiing is not explicitly mentioned, critics have been quick - with reason - to question the South Australian's actions.
The situation was then worsened when Carlton recruit Alex Fasolo broke his arm in an alcohol-fuelled scuffle on the very same day. Although the incidents were worlds apart, they have brought into question how strict clubs should be in limiting the activites players can take part in during time off.
A message from Fas to all Carlton members and supporters. #BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/WkUHfXa4KL
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) January 29, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles punter and former AFL draftee, Cameron Johnston, told SEN Breakfast that NFL players would rarely take such risks because their contracts aren't guaranteed.
Commenting on the non-football injuries sustained by Wines and Fasolo over the long-weekend, Johnston highlighted the cut-throat nature of the NFL in comparison to the Australian game.
“The contracts over there (in the NFL), they’re not guaranteed, you can be cut any time,” Johnston told the program.
“I don’t think anyone takes the risks and if you do take the risks, well, you’re going to see yourself on the street pretty quickly without a team.
“I think you weigh up the costs of it. My first year at Ohio State, I went skiing and it was the first and last time. I was told by the coaches, 'you’re never doing that again'.
“They said, 'we brought you all the way from Australia, you’re not going to tear a knee going down a snowboard'.”
Before pursuing a career in the NFL, Johnston was drafted by Melbourne Demons as a rookie in 2011. However, the 26-year-old was delisted after failing to play a single game in his one season with the club.
The Eagles punter made the Philadelphia 53-man roster in 2018, making his debut in the club's season opener against Atlanta.