It is hard to believe that Chad Wingard is only 19 years of age and fans believe he is leading Port Adelaide’s best and fairest.
During Round 3’s showdown, Dwayne Russell commented on how showdowns can be the making of the players. Wingard kicked 3.0.
Three out of the past four Power games Chad Wingard has arguably been Port Adelaide’s best performer.
Wingard has an average of 22 disposals this year, 10 more than he is did in his first year in elite football.
No such thing as ‘second year blues’ for Wingard who has kicked 18 goals this year, three behind leading goal scorer Jay Shulz for Port Adelaide Power.
When Port Adelaide managed to take Wingard with pick six in the 2011 National Draft it was a great steal.
Many AFL commentators thought Wingard was heading to Greater Western Sydney for sure.
Between Chad Wingard and Jake Neade, they made sure GWS noted the talent they had overlooked.
Against GWS in Round 2, Wingard kicked 3.1 as well as picking up 22 disposals while Jake Neade kicked two goals and gathering 15 disposals for his endeavours.
From that game on, viewers were in awe of the chemistry between Wingard and Neade.
As part of a trade deal Port Adelaide, obtained Jake Neade from GWS in the 2012 offseason.
In 2012 Wingard played 19 games including starting as substitute a few times. Coaches, commentators and supporters all saw the potential the boy from Murray Bridge had.
His standout game in 2012 against the Brisbane Lions in Round 22 was a sneak peak for the things to come in the future.
Against the Lions, Wingard had 27 disposals and a goal. Wingard was awarded a NAB Rising Star nomination for his efforts.
Many indigenous greats of the AFL have played for Port Adelaide and we may be about to witness another. Power Indigenous players to come before Wingard have been the likes of Brownlow Medallist Gavin Wanganeen, Norm Smith winner Byron Pickett.
Others may remember the freakish skills of other Port players such as Fabian Francis, Cockatoo Collins and Daniel Motlop.
Wingard has already collected multiple Mark of The Year nominations and as well as kicked skilful goals. He has an entertaining career in front of him.
Wingard’s role of playing as a small forward and occasionally being placed in the midfield by Ken Hinkley has really benefitted the development of Chad, as well as the Port Adelaide team.
If Wingard has a chance of winning a best and fairest as a 19-year-old in a rebuilding AFL side then imagine what he could do in seven years?
Could we see the making of a possible Brownlow winner? Whatever the future holds for Chad Wingard the AFL community will enjoy watching him play for many years.
Chad Wingard and the Port Adelaide Football Club face off against GWS Giants this Sunday and a few questions have been asked of the Power.
Port Adelaide are coming off their bye for this weekend’s game.
The game ahead proves to be good chance for Wingard to rip up a young GWS team, help the Power get over the line and have redemption at Skoda Stadium to banish the nightmares of 2012’s Round 19, 34 point loss to GWS.
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