The star midfielder Luke Hodge believes North Melbourne should target in the trade period

Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge believes Ollie Wines would be the perfect player to provide leadership and set standards at North Melbourne.

The Port Adelaide midfielder has been forced into a secondary role at the club, thanks to the emergence of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee, Jason Horne-Francis and Willem Drew.

However, with Rozee sidelined on the weekend Wines wound the clock back and put on a dominant performance in his side’s win over the Cats in Geelong.

North Melbourne meanwhile remains winless and lacking in leadership. They only have four players on their list who have played a game this season aged 28 or older.

This is due to losing Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington and Todd Goldstein over summer, leaving a leadership void at the club.

Hodge believes the 29-year-old Wines, who has two years to run on his Power contract, could be the one who sets the standards and the culture at the Kangaroos.

Of course, Hodge himself did this at a later stage in his career, joining Chris Fagan at Brisbane for two seasons as they came out of their rebuild.

“I watched this bloke on Friday night down at Geelong and he’s been moved out of the midfield because they’ve got a star-studded young group,” the four-time premiership Hawk told SEN’s Sportsday.

“Clearly, he’s still good enough. With Connor Rozee out on the weekend he was really good, and half of last week without Rozee he was exceptional.

“He’s got two years to go on his contract knowing he’s probably going to be on the outskirts (of the Port midfield). If they get another good midfielder in the draft or via trade, maybe he could be on the outer.

“Does North Melbourne go and throw him a four or five-year deal on a lot of cash to bring him over to try and teach them?

“He has been an on-field leader, his professionalism is second to none, he’s played a lot of different positions and he’s been big enough to step aside and let Rozee, Butters, Drew and Horne-Francis to jump into his midfield – it was his midfield, he was captain, and now he’s playing on the wing.

“So, he’s been selfless enough to move for the benefit of the team, that is a big attribute to bring to a North Melbourne team that probably lack some older guys.

“His mindset there wouldn’t be to go and get 35 touches, it would be to teach them a few tricks and set standards and other things.”

Power great Kane Cornes believes it would be great for the Roos, but wonders what would be in it for Wines.

“My initial thoughts is I love it for North. I like it because it’s not a Scott Pendlebury type who’s 36. Ollie Wines is almost at the peak of his powers,” Cornes said.

“What is in it for him to go and play at a team like North Melbourne? Well, it would take a longer term deal. If he’s got two years left at Port Adelaide, can he add an extra three years to his career and prolong his career?

“He’s from Echuca, so to get back closer to family would be an attraction for him.

“He should walk in and captain the joint, if he goes there. Instantly you would make him captain, that’s how impressive he is.

“The only question you’d ask if you were a North fan is – do you need another midfielder? They need a key forward and three key defenders.”

Hodge believes it all starts with one word – culture.

“It starts with the culture, Kane. You go out there and get the bloke who is going to set the tone for everyone,” he added.

“The person who sets the culture will set it for the defenders, the forwards, will set it for the midfielders.

“He’s just as much there for the off-field and to teach the guys.

“They’ve had a lot of draft picks, teach them how to play AFL footy. That’s why I would be targeting him.

“What’s in it for him? He could change the culture of the club. In five years’ time if they’re back playing finals, he might be there, he might not, but he’s gone there and changed the culture of the team.”

Cornes added his own similar experience during his playing days.

“Brad Ebert came to us from West Coast in 2011. We were a genuine basket case. Coach sacked, president walked out, players got traded,” he said.

“Brad set an unbelievable standard and honestly he was the one who changed training standards. His GPS numbers were plastered on whiteboards.

“And only two years later we’re playing in a Prelim and he was really influential in that.”