Chad Wingard Biography

Hawthorn select Chad Wingard with pick No.1 in the 2023 Pre-Season Draft.

Chad Wingard will play on in 2024 after signing a one-year contract extension at Hawthorn.

Chad Wingard has ruptured his Achilles tendon and is facing up to a year on the sidelines after suffering the injury in Launceston in the opening minutes of the Hawks' three-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

Chad Wingard will require surgery on a lacerated tongue after receiving a stray arm to the mouth in a marking contest late in the second term against the Giants.

Chad Wingard and AFLW player Tayla Harris urge the federal government at a hearing to create laws requiring identification for social media profiles in a bid to stamp out online abuse.

"Social media has definitely taken a huge toll on AFL players. But not just AFL players, it has taken a toll on my family and the families of players," Wingard said.

"I know a lot of people say it comes with being an AFL player but I don't think being bullied or being discriminated against is in the job description. I view it as 'what would happen if it happened at a live event, what would happen in person ... a screen doesn't take away the pain."

Chad Wingard has put a dampener in Greater Western Sydney's hopes of recruiting him, rejecting the idea of a trade via a post on Instagram.

The Giants had emerged as a shock suitor for Wingard under a plan to fit both the Hawks forward and Dockers big man Rory Lobb under their tight salary cap during the 2021 AFL Trade Period.

Chad Wingard is set to miss both pre-season games after sustaining a calf injury during the Hawks' intraclub match.

Jack Gunston wins his first Peter Crimmins Medal as Hawthorn's club champion after a consistent 2020 season.

The 28-year-old was crowned night in a virtual awards ceremony, polling in every game and 102 votes overall to edge out Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell (96) and Chad Wingard (73).

"To earn both an All-Australian nomination and third place in the Coleman Medal, in what was a disappointing season for our club, is testament to the character and talent of Jack," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"He tackled the challenges of this season with a great attitude and he stepped up for us on countless occasions throughout the season and was the side's most consistent performer."

Chad Wingard opens up on how he was the subject of daily racist attacks on social media at the start of his career.

"The AFL and AFL clubs do call it out now, but this wasn't happening at the start of my career," Wingard said on The Advertiser's 'Black Australia' podcast.

"This was on a weekly basis. If you go into your DMs (direct messages) or if you go into a photo, that was normal. That was normal and clubs didn't want to call it out at all and it made you feel like a piece of dirt, that you weren't good enough for them to back you in."

Chad Wingard announces on Twitter that he will not conduct any media interviews besides those he is contractually obliged to.

"I dont trust our media anymore! Until things change i wont be doing any interviews im not contracted to do! Ill be sharing my own thoughts and content!" Wingard Tweeted.

Chad Wingard is set to miss multiple matches after suffering another soft tissue injury in Saturday night's loss to Brisbane.

Wingard left the field with a hamstring problem in the 19-point defeat and took no part in the final quarter.

It continues a rough start to his career with the Hawks after a calf injury curtailed his pre-season and kept him out of the first two rounds.

Hawthorn skipper Ben Stratton has played down his teammates' heated on-field confrontation with star recruit Chad Wingard.

Eyebrows were raised when premiership veterans Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo laid into former Port Adelaide forward Wingard during the half-time break of Saturday's narrow loss to Melbourne at the MCG.

"I love that. It just means they've got passion and they want their teammate to get better. A new guy coming in, they want him to improve and embrace the way we go about it so I think that just shows passion," Stratton said.

"Those sort of conversations happen 50 times a game. It just so happened the cameras were on this one."

Chad Wingard finishes with three goals from ten disposals in his first game as a Hawk.

"It's about impacting the game. I think that if I'm at my best, I can impact the game in many ways – not just by touches but in getting the crowd involved and making my teammates better," Wingard said.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says he sees recruit Chad Wingard as the team's replacement for Cyril Rioli up forward.

"We see Chad as being a guy who can play Cyril's type of role," Clarkson said.

"At different stages we used Cyril through the middle of the ground. Chad, at some point in time, will play that role for us, too, but, by and large, we recruited him to be that dynamic forward that Rioli played as for us for a long period of time."

Chad Wingard has all but been ruled out of round one after suffering a setback on his injured calf at training.

Wingard has been dealing with calf tightness over the past month but reaggravated the injury on the track earlier this week.

Chad Wingard is battling a calf injury that has restricted his training.

New Hawk recruit Chad Wingard hits back at claims by former Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea that he left the Power out of a refusal to improve his work ethic.

"My understanding is the leadership group were sick of him, sick of his attitude," Tredrea said on Triple M about Wingard.

"I can tell you post-season, when Kenny challenged him, it was toys out of the cot. Sometimes you take your medicine, come back a week later. My understanding was he just said 'trade me'."

Wingard, however, disputed this claim via a post on social media.

"It has been a bunch of lies and a lack of understanding," Wingard wrote.

"In reality, it has been mutual on all sides and sometimes the media don’t like that, because they can’t sell it.

"To read and hear those things hurt a lot because I feel like I have given a lot back to the club and the fans. All I can do now is move on."

New Hawk recruit Chad Wingard reveals he was surprised to learn the Power were open to trading him following his exit meeting with coach Ken Hinkley.

"After that meeting I wanted to stay at Port Adelaide. I didn’t have it in my mind to even think of asking for a trade," Wingard said.

"I think it was probably a couple of weeks after that my manager came to me, and I’m not sure who instigated it, but told me Port was open to me having a look around.

"For me it felt like if they're going to ask me to do that, they're really open to it and want to trade me."

Chad Wingard is a Hawk and Ryan Burton has officially joined Port Adelaide alongside Lion Sam Mayes in two significant trades on final day of the 2018 AFL Trade Period.

It also left the Power armed with Brisbane’s pick No.5, exchanging pick No.6 with the Lions.

Hawthorn’s pick No.15 moved to the Power, the Lions gaining Hawthorn's pick No.35 and a future third-round selection.

Contracted to the Lions for one more season, Mayes was granted his wish to return to South Australia to be closer to his family.

Jared Polec says former Port Adelaide teammate Chad Wingard, who has requested a trade to Hawhtorn, was unsettled after the end of the 2018 season.

"I've spoken to him a few times about it, not during the season, but after the season," Polec told Channel Nine's The Trade Table.

"His head was kind of in no man's land at that stage and I believe that he's heartbroken.

"He loves the club, anyone that speaks to him knows he loves Port Adelaide. It was a bit of a shock decision."

Ryan Burton is the only Hawthorn player who has been put on the trade table as the Hawks scramble to convince Port Adelaide to release contracted forward Chad Wingard.

Burton, contracted with the Hawks until 2020, is on holiday in the United States but will consider whether he wants to return home to South Australia over the next few days.

Chad Wingard requests a trade to Hawthorn after the Western Bulldogs fall out of the race for his services.

Port are reported to have inquired about Ryan Burton's availability and the Hawks are reported to be prepared to include the key defender in the deal.

Port Adelaide head of football Chris Davies says he expects Chad Wingard to remain at the club in 2019 despite interest from the Bulldogs.

"He's a contracted player for us in 2019," Davies said.

Wingard has posted cryptic messages on social media suggesting he's unhappy in recent weeks, but Davies said he wasn't concerned.

"I don't think he's unhappy, I think he's pretty happy being close to his family in Murray Bridge in South Australia," Davies said.

Port Adelaide but football manager Chris Davies says the club is happy for Chad Wingard to stay, but that the contracted forward could well decide to leave if a lucrative offer comes by.

"Unless Chad gets to a point where he's got an offer on the table that would suggest he wants to leave, we plan for him to stay in 2019," Davies said.

"We're certainly not going to force Chad out. If he wants to stay at our footy club in 2019, he'll be here."

Western Bulldogs list manager Sam Power confirms the club's interest in securing Port Adelaide star Chad Wingard.

"Chad hasn't (told he wants to come to the club), but we've obviously signalled to his management he's a player of interest to us," Power said.

The Western Bulldogs have made Chad Wingard their No.1 trade target and have enlisted the star's former Port Adelaide teammate Jackson Trengove to get the deal over the line.

Trengove is reported to have been in communication with close friend Wingard over a potential move to Whitten Oval on a long-term multi-million dollar deal as soon as this season.

Chad Wingard has excelled in the past six weeks since being moved to the midfield, averaging 26.6 disposals and 5.5 clearances per game.

"Being a midfielder, you can dictate the game a lot," Wingard said.

"You feel like a point guard again, in terms of basketball. You set up the play and pretty much have an impact on your own game."

Chad Wingard admits he's had a poor start to the 2018 season.

The 24-year-old was well below his best in Port Adelaide's three-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston and received a spray from Power runner Chad Cornes for his positioning.

"I've been struggling," Wingard admitted.

"You can have a lot of excuses, but I'm not going to chuck any up there.

"It's really on myself, I've got to play at a better level. I'm just going to take it as a challenge and learn from it."

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley admits the Power are taking a risk with forward Chad Wingard, returning for Showdown 44 just 14 days after suffering a hamstring injury against North Melbourne.

"There's some risk with any hamstring return and Chad might be at risk tomorrow, but we understand those risks and we're prepared to take them," Hinkley said.

Chad Wingard is set to miss a couple of games after straining his hamstring in Port Adelaide's win over North Melbourne.

Wingard winced after taking a mark, but kicked the goal anyway, before walking off the ground dejected.

"When you're at that stage of the game, you're not sure if you're cramping or not. So you go back and take the kick, and the kick confirmed to him he'd done it. Luckily enough the kick went through," Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley explained.

Chad Wingard could miss up to a month with a high ankle sprain.

“Chad had scans on Monday, which confirmed a high ankle sprain, so he’ll miss somewhere between two and four weeks in rehab," Port Adelaide's head physiotherapist Tim McGrath said.

“We’ll take a no-risk approach with his injury, so will assess him week-to-week before he starts running again.”

Chad Wingard will miss up to three games after spraining his ankle in the third quarter of Port Adelaide's loss to Melbourne at the MCG.

"It's a high ankle sprain," Power senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks told Triple M.

"We watched the replay back … he had the weight on it and got rolled inwards."

During their trip to Shanghai for the Power's match against the Suns, Chad Wingard and Sam Gray catch up with Socceroos stars Robbie Kruse and James Holland, who play for Liaoning Whowin FC in the Chinese Super League.

Chad Wingard issues a passionate call to arms over racial vilification.

Speaking after alleged racial slurs from fans aimed at both the Power's Paddy Ryder and Adelaide's Eddie Betts during Saturday's Showdown at the Adelaide Oval, Wingard said it was time for Australians to take a stand.

"As a club and as a person and as a nation, we need to stand up and say that's not acceptable, not just in football but in life in general," he said.

"To be discriminated against for something that you're born with, that people are proud to be, is pretty low. But as a club and as a community, we're hopefully going to educate people about it and how much an effect it has on people. Hopefully it's a learning curve and it doesn't happen again."

The fans have spoken and Western Bulldogs premiership prodigy Marcus Bontempelli will appear on the cover of the yet-to-be-released AFL Evolution video game.

Following a fan poll on AFL.com.au late last year, Dogs club champion Bontempelli received 23 per cent of the 128,000 votes cast by fans.

'The Bont' will be joined on the cover of AFL Evolution by Port Adelaide star Chad Wingard and Sydney youngster Isaac Heeney.

Chad Wingard has been earmarked by Power coach Ken Hinkley to play a more predominant role in the midfield in 2017.

"I hope that he can elevate himself again as a player because he is still a young player who is getting better," Hinkley said.

"We get a bit excited by what that might look like [and] what that limit is I don't know."

Chad Wingard’s season is over after injuring his right hamstring against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

Wingard kicked Port’s first goal but limped heavily when escorted down into the Power’s rooms early in the second term.

He emerged, still limping badly with ice taped to the back of his upper thigh.

As Chad Wingard prepares to line up for his 100th match, he is already being touted as a future great of Port Adelaide and possible the club's greatest of all time by former Power champion Kane Cornes.

Writing in a column for News Corp, Cornes said Wingard could one day surpass Brownlow medallist Gavin Wanganeen and premiership captain Warren Tredrea.

"I don't read too much of that stuff. Because it was Kane Cornes, I did give it a read, because I have so much respect for him," Wingard said.

"It's something I don't really ponder over or have a look at. I'm still young and it's something that I'll obviously respect his opinion but it's something that I don't really believe in.

"I come in every week and try to just be the best I can. I don't really worry about where I stand or what I've done in my career."

Chad Wingard is in doubt for Saturday's crunch clash against Richmond after suffering a delayed concussion from Saturday night's loss to Geelong.

Wingard copped a heavy hit during the third term and was assessed at three-quarter time before playing out the rest of the game.

Further tests taken after the game confirmed the dual All Australian had experienced a delayed concussion.

"Chad was checked at three-quarter time and showed no signs of concussion," Power's head of high performance Darren Burgess said.

"We checked him again after the match as a precaution and he was showing signs of a delayed concussion.

"His safety is obviously our priority. We'll review him again this week and if he hasn't improved we'll keep him out of round six."

Chad Wingard has been ruled of the Power's round 3 side to take on Essendon due to a hamstring strain.

"We have scanned Chad yesterday because he still had some (hamstring) awareness so we're a bit mindful of that," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"As much as we'd love him and need him to be out there this week, we have got to take the long-term view."

Chad Wingard hopes improving his skill on his non-preferred right foot will help him become even more unpredictable in season 2016.

"That right leg I don't think I've used too often, so I reckon I might try and have a few more kicks on that so I don't turn the same way every time," Wingard said.

"It's something that I'm going to have to improve on; it's definitely something that [doesn't] come naturally to me. I've by far nowhere near perfected my game.

"I've got a lot of things to improve on and one of them's my right foot, and my running capability's a big one too."

Chad Wingard will remain with Port Adelaide until at least the end of 2019 after signing a new three-year deal.

"There is such a great feeling among the players and the club in general, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else," Wingard said.

"Family is everything to me and the boys are like my second family.

"I also value, so much, the work the club is doing with our Aboriginal and community programs and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with all the boys in growing that in the years to come."

Robbie Gray has again been crowned Port Adelaide's best and fairest, winning his second straight John Cahill Medal in a close count from star forward Chad Wingard.

Gray's back-to-back win makes him just the third multiple winner of the award after both Kane Cornes and Warren Tredrea claimed four wins during their respective careers.

The 27-year-old averaged 26 possessions a match in 2015, booted 25 goals and ended the year second in the AFL for average goal assists.

Gray finished on 243 votes – 13 ahead of Wingard who lost the lead in the closing rounds.

Largely unheralded defender Jack Hombsch was recognised for his best season, rounding out the top three, while skipper Travis Boak finished in fourth place.

Chad Wingard withdraws from the Virgin Australia International Rules team due to bone bruising to his right knee.

"As a club we thought about what’s best for the team (in the) short-term and long-term, and obviously long-term is the priority," Wingard said.

"It’s very disappointing - obviously it would have been a great trip away and a good learning experience for me, but I’m just going to have to play the cards I’m dealt and hopefully get that opportunity again one day."

Chad Wingard says he has been working on his game in the middle to step up for the Power's midfield if needed.

"You've got to try and add to your game – you've got to be versatile," Wingard said.

"I'm learning from the guys in the midfield to try and add things to my game but like I said, if someone goes down … it's something that if I'm [called up] I want to have in my bag, that I'm prepared for.

"It's something I'm trying to work on."

Chad Wingard won't speculate on his chances of playing in round one as he recovers from knee surgery.

"There's no time frame for my return. I'll come back when it feels good," Wingard said.

"Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later, but that's all I can say at the moment.

"I've got to let it [the knee] rest and we've got no [return] goals yet."

Chad Wingard will miss at least four weeks of training after undergoing minor surgery to clean up his right knee after experiencing soreness last week.

Head of high performance Darren Burgess said given the season started later this year, the decision was made to have surgery now and allow the knee to recuperate.

"With the season still nine to 10 weeks away, we decided the right course of action was to get the surgery done now rather than waiting to see if rest would allow him to recover," Burgess said.

"The expectation is that Chad will be back on the track in four to six weeks."

Chad Wingard takes out the Lifebroker Mark of the Year.

Wingard soared over St Kilda defender Sean Dempster to haul in his towering mark.

The Power half-forward launched himself into the air, reaching backwards to bring in the grab. Then, for good measure, he played on and snapped the goal around the corner.

Chad Wingard has struggled to recapture his 2013 form in 2014 and Power assistant coach says the young forward's challenge is to find consistency across four quarters.

"His ultimate outcome and impact for the team will be through four-quarter effort, and we want him to lift his consistency through games, but he's had some really good patches," Hart said.

"It's the ability to continue to work in every part of the game. You can't hope the footy comes to you on a nice platter.

"You're still not going to have a great game sometimes but if your work-rate is 100 per cent throughout the game, you should be guaranteed to have some sort of impact for the team."

In a survey of more than 23,000 supporters, Chad Wingard is voted as the league's best young player to watch.

Chad Wingard says being honest with GWS about his lack of interest in joining them is the reason he is not a Giant today.

"If I lied to them and said 'yeah I want to be here and I'm going to be here for your future', they're putting all their chips on me [only] to find I want to go home in two years," Wingard said.

"They're pretty much going to lose me for nothing.

"So I think that because I was so honest, they still got to pick someone else who wanted to be there and they didn't get nothing for their pick three, four or five which was what they would have had [me at]."

As he approaches his 50th game, Chad Wingard says he looks to Power veteran Kane Cornes as his inspiration for a long and successful career.

"It's a big journey to try and improve each year and I'm going to take a lot out of Kane Cornes' book that you need to continually have that urge to improve," Wingard said.

"He (Cornes) is the pinnacle of what players want to be.

"He's got the club [games] record, he's been through the highs and lows and he's completely changed his game from when he first started.

"[I won't be] selfish about who I am and [I'll] try to improve myself, but try to improve the team as well."

Chad Wingard says one fine season doesn't make him elite.

"Eliteness comes with consistency; one season doesn't make you an elite player," Wingard said.

"I think the elite players are the Selwoods … Travis Boaks – just had season after season where they've been key players for their team.

"I'm nowhere near that standard yet. I'm just going to try and keep improving game to game and try and be that player."

Chad Wingard wins the Power's John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide's best and fairest award at just 20 years of age and says the memory of late friend Alex Aunger spurred him on this season.

Wingard has written Aunger's initials "AA" on his boots since his death and said the memory of his friend calmed him in high-pressure situations.

"It actually helps me with my set shot routine – I touch his name and rub my hands on the back of my legs three times because that's his favourite number," Wingard said.

"It's just a way for me to calm myself down, put life in perspective and just think 'it's just a game, it's nothing more, nothing less'."

Chad Wingard extends his contract with Port Adelaide, keeping him at the club until the end of 2016.

"His form this year has been first class and he's added so much to our team through his flexibility," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"Chad loves playing against the better sides and he certainly thrives in the environment of playing in tough, contested games.

"He doesn't turn 20 until the end of this month and we are all aware that he still has plenty to learn and lot of development before he takes his game to a higher level."

Playing in his second year, Chad Wingard's class and skill has become evident after four games into the 2013 season.

"I'm finding it (consistency) easier this year, I think it comes with experience and a bit of confidence, so hopefully I can keep it up and as a team we can keep improving week by week," Wingard said.

Wingard credits new Power coach Ken Hinkley for helping him elevate his game to the next level.

"Kenny has been really honest with me. He doesn't pump your tyres up too much and tells you how it is," he said.

"And Ken has helped me with my growth as a player and a person so I couldn't ask for much more."

Chad Wingard earns a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after 27 disposals in a loss to the Lions.

"I think I've improved as a person and as a footballer. The coaches and the group have been great," Wingard said of his year.

"They've really put their time into me and helped me work on what I've needed to work on, things like the spread from stoppages and just mentally as well. All the credit goes to them."

Power youngster Chad Wingard says Jay Schulz is a shining example of the courage needed to play AFL football.

"On-field and off-field, he's a great bloke, he's a competitor, that's all I can say -he's a great competitor and he just wants to make people better and that's why we've got him at this club and that's why he'll be around for a long time," Wingard said of Schulz.

Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard says taking on idol Daniel Wells, who signed his poster many years ago, gives the clash with North special significance.

"To show that someone would go out of their way just for a supporter who really doesn't follow football, he didn't know me and it just shows how much he cares about everyone who supports him," Wingard said.

"I've met him a couple of times, but he wouldn't remember, it was just through the AIS casually and I knew Majak Daw…I kind of just went up to him and asked for a photo - I've got photos on Facebook and stuff like that of him.

"He's just been an inspiration for me."

Chad Wingard says he is unfazed by his AFL debut against St Kilda.

"Footy, in any way you play it, is still football," he said.

"If anyone wants the ball they're going to go get it. When it comes down to it, it's just whether you want the ball or not.

"I had general soreness, but that's what you have after every game. I woke up and I could actually get out of bed without help at all."

Chad Wingard makes his AFL debut for Port Adelaide at Football Park with 16 disposals (3 kicks and 13 handballs), 3 marks and 2 tackles in a 4-point win over St Kilda.

Prized draft pick Chad Wingard will make his debut in Port Adelaide's 2012 season opener against the Saints.

"There's not much of him, but he's a real competitive kid, puts his head over the ball and he's been really good in some of the real tough games we've played in the NAB Cup," Power head coach Matthew Primus said.

"The heat's in the kitchen, it certainly will be on Sunday and we're confident he'll be able to stand up under that."

Chad Wingard is enjoying the buoyant mood at Port Adelaide amid hopes of an AFL debut.

"I knew the AFL was going to be a massive step up from anything I was used to," he said.

"My main goal has been to just keep improving and play my role, particularly within the forward line.

"The coaches and physical staff we've got here are the best I've been involved with and have been really impressive in helping me try to gain muscle and strength.

"But my endeavour and willingness to go hard at the ball will help me a lot if I do debut this season."

Port Adelaide's coach Matthew Primus says Chad Wingard has earned an opportunity to play in the NAB Cup.

"We'll pick a squad of 34 and I think his form over the last couple of weeks would get him in there," Primus said.

"He's going about his footy in a great manner. "

Prized Port Adelaide draft pick Chad Wingard survived a scare after crashing his mountain bike on an extreme training camp in New Zealand.

Chad Wingard is happy to be able to remain in South Australia after being picked up by the Power with pick 6 in the 2011 national draft.

"The look on my mum's face - I've never seen it before," Wingard said.

"She was very proud of me and I think it's a happy feeling for her to be able to see her son for a little bit longer. I probably won't get homesick now. I'll only be 45 minutes from home. It's not so much relief but I'm just very happy."