AFL star Chad Wingard retires

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AFL star Chad Wingard, one of the most talented footballers the Murraylands has ever produced, has announced his retirement.

The 31-year-old veteran made the announcement on his Instagram page on Monday morning, after “13 years of memories and moments I’ll cherish forever”.

“Thank you to Port Adelaide Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club for shaping me into the player and person I am today,” he said.

“To the fans of this great game, thank you, and I hope I played a small part in entertaining you on the weekends during my journey.

“Lastly, my family, thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to be my best every day.”

Wingard played 218 games and booted 300 goals at the game’s top level after being drafted by Port Adelaide in 2011, then moving to Hawthorn in 2019.

He was named to the All-Australian team twice, in 2013 and 2015; won the Power’s best and fairest award in 2013; and took the AFL’s mark of the year, a screamer against St Kilda, in 2014.

He did not play a senior game this season after suffering an achilles injury in August 2023.

Hawthorn executive Rob McCartney was among those who paid tribute to the retiring star.

“There are countless breathtaking moments that Chad has delivered us all over the years that will live long in the memories of the Hawthorn and Port Adelaide faithful,” McCartney said.

“Along with his amazing talents on the field, Chad drove himself and others around him to higher levels as a much-respected teammate and leader during his time at Hawthorn.

“Chad’s influence extended much wider than just his playing feats; he is a significant role model for our First Nations players and staff, with his words and actions being felt across the AFL and wider community.

“Chad will always remain an important part of the Hawthorn fabric, and on behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to wish Chad, his fiancee Lilly and his entire family all the very best for the future.”

Wingard went to school at Unity College in Murray Bridge and grew up playing footy for Imperials, kicking five goals in a winning grand final as a teenager in 2009.

Famously, he didn’t follow AFL football – “my heroes were Brad Sewell and guys who played local footy; my goal was to play local footy,” he told Murraylands Life magazine earlier this year.

He had hoped to become a pro basketballer, and had captained South Australia at an under-16 level in that sport.

But he wound up representing SA in interstate footy, too, and found his way into the professional system through the Australian Institute of Sport.

Among players hailing from the clubs which are now part of the River Murray Football League, he finishes a narrow second in AFL games played to former Peake and Imperials player Marty Mattner, who totalled 222, according to Draftguru.

What’s next for Murray Bridge’s AFL star?

In that interview with Murraylands Life magazine, Wingard suggested he and his fiancee were settled in Melbourne, and that he would consider a career in player development after his playing days were done.

“There’s a player development manager role at every club,” he said, name-dropping Jamie Bennell, Shaun Burgoyne and Shaun Edwards.

“They look after the playing group and their welfare – off the field, with their families, with their studies – trying to get players in the best state possible to perform and to be ready for life as an AFL footballer.”

Perhaps he could even become a mentor to the next Chad Wingard one day, the next skinny kid coming up through the system.

Would he ever come back and pull on an Imps guernsey one day?

“Maybe a cameo, if my mates go back,” he said with a smile that was audible down the phone line.

“I’d love to play with my brother again, but it would have to be in B grade, I imagine.”

• Read more: Chad Wingard is not done yet

Correction: An earlier version of this story included incorrect details about Wingard’s injury.