Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn, Chad Wingard. 200 games! Announces retirement (2 Sept 2024)

[tommyk72]

I feel like this is a bit of a 'I told you so moment' for us.

We've been saying that he's a midfielder the whole time, and is most certainly not a Rioli replacement. He's a dynamic, skillful midfielder that puts on manic pressure with second and third efforts and tackles hard - he just needed to get fit and we'd all see it.

As soon as we were linked with him I was all aboard the Wingard hype train. I wanted him over Shiel, and was happy with the seemingly mutually beneficial trade we made.

Do you reckon clarko made the ‘forward pocket’ statement to try and lower his value? You pay less for an AA forward pocket than you do for an AA midfielder...

 

[The Chad and I]

take away the stats padding Ablett used to do in his prime, and Wingard played at a similar level today - but also made 10 tackles!

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Do you reckon clarko made the ‘forward pocket’ statement to try and lower his value? You pay less for an AA forward pocket than you do for an AA midfielder...

Not sure, maybe he did?

Wingard was an AA forward twice for Port, but they used him the right way by playing fast footy. That's something we don't really do though at this point in time unfortunately.

 

[MrPremiership]

10 tackles today and he's had a solid 2 months of good footy, but also 100% on his defensive efforts.

Clarko has made him a hungry team man. Ken Hinkley couldn't get him to train properly. Forget the tactic side, this is where a coach becomes a great.

 

[Dipper]

Wingard and Worpel are our best 2 players and will be the vital cogs (genuinely not a pun) in our next flag.

O'Meara has become a super domestique.

On SM-J330G using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[The Chad and I]

10 tackles today and he's had a solid 2 months of good footy, but also 100% on his defensive efforts.

Clarko has made him a hungry team man. Ken Hinkley couldn't get him to train properly. Forget the tactic side, this is where a coach becomes a great.

They have deep cultural problems at Port dating back to burgoyne's days there.
Insiders vs outsiders is never optimal, especially when you are counting on getting the best out of the whole squad to be competitive.

 

[KermitJagger]

Wingard has impressed me most in his intensity for the contest, particularly in the milestone games he's played in. Was one of the few that could hold his head high in Burgoyne's record breaker.

 

[vanders]

Chad is showing why supporters need to be patient, not just with him but with every player we get from another club.

It takes players a while to find their groove when they join a new club and hes had to deal with injuries too.

Scully is starting to find his groove too. Lots to look forward to next year.

Also don't underestimate how much of an impact the club environment has on players coming in too. We are very encouraging of guys having interests outside of footy and being happy away from footy plays a huge part in on field performance.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

He looks fit, healthy and happy. And he is playing like a beast.

So damn exciting, win or lose its going to be a blat watching him shred players over the next 6-7 years.

 

[MrPremiership]

Taking a while, but slowly warming to the guy

 

[lyger]

How good was his tackling today!

His tackling was superb (especially in the first half when the game was still a contest).

Also great was the one per centers, including the smother at the end of the game which led to Roughy’s final goal.

 

[LRobbo]

When he put the foot down and just backed himself to run past that GC player and hit Rough lace out. Wow. Our midfield was crying out for express pace and he’s brings it in spades. Throw Cogs into that engine room and one of Chad, Cogs or Worpel is always going to float through half forward, all goal kickers.

Chad hopefully stays niggle free, watch him be a top 10 player in the competition next year. Jet

 

[Sixpence]

Our midfield was crying out for express pace and he’s brings it in spades.

This. I never thought he was slow, but his acceleration is unreal. Didn't realise he had that much in him. Similar to Impey, he seems to have more time than other players - great awareness, a great sidestep and a burst of speed, all of a sudden they have time and space.

 

[Roddy]

Chad is showing why supporters need to be patient, not just with him but with every player we get from another club.

It takes players a while to find their groove when they join a new club and hes had to deal with injuries too.

Scully is starting to find his groove too. Lots to look forward to next year.

Also don't underestimate how much of an impact the club environment has on players coming in too. We are very encouraging of guys having interests outside of footy and being happy away from footy plays a huge part in on field performance.

This.

Reading the threads on this, I can only repeatedly facepalm and scratch my head in bafflement at the kneejerking 'Chad's not a Hawthorn superstar in his first three games for us!' posts.....

 

[eldorado]

But he missed a game or two this year, that Ryan Burton didn't miss!!!

WE LOST THE TRADE!!!



I'd like to say it's just Kane Cornes who is a knee-jerk alarmist, but sadly, we have a few on our board too

 

[4THAWN]

IMO the best thing to see from chad has been his vision. Hardly ever makes the wrong decision with ball in-hand and knows where to put the ball to weave through a teams defensive structure.

His handball to poppy that set up a Roughy/TOB goal was a great example.

 

[HawkSince2008]

Chad is great when he sees ball be he gets ball


On iPad using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[OnTheRocks]

But he missed a game or two this year, that Ryan Burton didn't miss!!!

WE LOST THE TRADE!!!



I'd like to say it's just Kane Cornes who is a knee-jerk alarmist, but sadly, we have a few on our board too

And equally sadly we have those that wish to shout at them I TOLD YOU SO!
Oh lord it's hard to be humble.......

 

[Wundo]

Wingard and Worpel are our best 2 players and will be the vital cogs (genuinely not a pun) in our next flag.

O'Meara has become a super domestique.

On SM-J330G using BigFooty.com mobile app

Cycling fan?

 

[eldorado]

And equally sadly we have those that wish to shout at them I TOLD YOU SO!
Oh lord it's hard to be humble.......

If people talk a lot of shit, be accountable for it. This includes you.

Don't get your knickers in a twist because bullshit is called out

Every ****wit wants the right to sprout their shit without consequence.

My right to an opinion! My right to an opinion!

What about the responsibility - to be reasonable, informed, open - that goes with it?? Nope, **** that. It's all about me knowing, and the rest listening.

I don't need to be humble, 'cos I generally don't make ****ing idiot judgements which prove to be ****ing idiot statements. I keep an open mind, even when surrounded by the usual "Bookmark" big talking, opiniated loudmouths...who, funnily enough, all REALLY HATE IT when people point out that they were wrong.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

And equally sadly we have those that wish to shout at them I TOLD YOU SO!
Oh lord it's hard to be humble.......

The 'told you so' crowd have every right on this one. The haters were miserable, impatient campaigners. Those that backed Chad in have earned the bragging rights.

 

[MrPremiership]

A couple of bad games from Chad didn't make it a bad trade

A couple of good games from Chad doesn't make it a good trade.

Let's reassess in 6-7 years time. Hopefully Chad has been part of a flag or two by then and we don't need to judge the trade

But by gosh its good to see him play well.

 

[eldorado]

The 'told you so' crowd have every right on this one. The haters were miserable, impatient campaigners. Those that backed Chad in have earned the bragging rights.

It's not even a question of being 'right' or 'wrong'

It's just "wait and see"...it's not that hard.

 

[Milkshaker]

And equally sadly we have those that wish to shout at them I TOLD YOU SO!
Oh lord it's hard to be humble.......

He had a poor pre-season and he looked unfit. In the early rounds he could not impact the contest and was obviously frustrated. He then appeared to have a run in with the playing group on field. He then missed a chunk of games. Port and a lot of fans were glad to see him go and were saying he had lost the passion to play

A few posters were concerned. I wonder why?

Then the illuminati come on board chest beating. Typical BF.

 

[OnTheRocks]

IMO the best thing to see from chad has been his vision. Hardly ever makes the wrong decision with ball in-hand and knows where to put the ball to weave through a teams defensive structure.

For me it's his footy smarts. He sees moves ahead of time so they all become options but he thinks what the opposition's options are so he can have an impact on them too.