Chad Wingard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chad Wingard |
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Wingard playing for Hawthorn in April 2019
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Chad Jordan Wingard | ||
| Nickname(s) | Chooka | ||
| Date of birth | 29 July 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Murray Bridge, Australia | ||
| Original team | Imperial (RMFL), Sturt (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 6, 2011 national draft (Port Adelaide) No. 1, 2023 pre-season draft (Hawthorn) |
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| Debut | Round 1, 2012, Port Adelaide v. St Kilda, at AAMI Stadium |
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| Position(s) | Midfielder / forward | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Chad Jordan Wingard (born July 29, 1993) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played for the Port Adelaide Football Club and the Hawthorn Football Club in the top league, the Australian Football League (AFL). He was chosen as the sixth player in the 2011 AFL Draft. This means he was one of the first players picked from all the young talents in Australia.
Early Life and Family
Chad Wingard was born on July 29, 1993, in Murray Bridge, South Australia. His father, Trevor, is an Aboriginal man. His mother, Julie, is Irish.
Chad's father is a descendant of Kudnarto. She was a very important Aboriginal woman. In 1848, she became the first Aboriginal woman to legally marry a European settler in South Australia. This was a big moment in history.
Chad has two brothers, one older and one younger. He also grew up with five younger foster siblings.
Chad Wingard's AFL Journey
Chad Wingard started his AFL career with Port Adelaide. His first game was in 2012 against St Kilda. In his first year, he showed great promise. He even got an AFL Rising Star nomination. This award goes to young players who have an amazing game.
In 2013, his second season, Chad became a star. He kicked 43 goals and played very well. He was chosen for the All-Australian team. This team features the best players from across the entire league. Chad was the youngest player to make this team since 1994.
He also won the Showdown Medal in 2013. This medal is given to the best player in a special game between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows. At the end of 2013, he won the John Cahill Medal. This is Port Adelaide's award for their best and fairest player. He was the youngest player to win it for Port Adelaide since 1982.
In 2014, Chad won the Mark of the Year award. This award is for the most spectacular catch (mark) in a game. He jumped high on another player's shoulders to take an amazing mark.
The 2015 season was one of Chad's best. He kicked a career-high 53 goals. He was the top goal kicker for Port Adelaide that year. He also earned another All-Australian team selection. This was a huge achievement for him.
After the 2018 season, Chad decided to move to a new team. He joined the Hawthorn Football Club. He was traded to Hawthorn on October 17.
Playing for Hawthorn
When Chad joined Hawthorn, he faced some challenges. He had a calf injury that made him miss some early games in 2019. But he soon made his debut for Hawthorn and kicked three goals.
During his time at Hawthorn, Chad often had injuries. These were mostly "soft tissue" injuries, like muscle strains. These injuries caused him to miss games almost every season.
Chad signed a new contract with Hawthorn for 2024. However, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2023. This meant he spent most of 2024 recovering. Chad did not play any games for Hawthorn in 2024. After the season, he announced his retirement from professional football.
Chad Wingard played a total of 218 games over 12 years. He played for both Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. He kicked 300 goals in his career.
Career Highlights
Chad Wingard achieved many great things in his career:
- He was chosen for the All-Australian team twice: in 2013 and 2015.
- He won the John Cahill Medal in 2013 as Port Adelaide's best player.
- He was Port Adelaide's top goal kicker twice: in 2015 and 2016.
- He won the Showdown Medal in 2013 for being the best player in a Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide Crows game.
- He won the Mark of the Year award in 2014 for his amazing high catch.
- He was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award in 2012.
- He played for the Australian International rules football team twice: in 2014 and 2017.
- He was part of the Indigenous All-Stars team in 2013.
- He was selected for the "22 Under 22 team" three times (2013, 2014, 2015). This team highlights the best young players in the league.
- He won Hawthorn's Goal of the Year award in 2023.
- He was captain of the South Australia Under 18s team in 2011.
