Power star Chad Wingard has last laugh after a best-afield performance against Richmond

IT does not worry Chad Wingard one bit what the experts say about his form — but the negative comments seem to have spurred him to his best performance for the year.

AFL - 08/06/18 - Port Adelaide v Richmond at The Adelaide Oval. Chad Wingard under pressure to gets his handpass out from Shane Edwards. Picture Sarah Reed

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PORT Adelaide midfielder-forward Chad Wingard has cheekily thanked his many detractors after turning his form around in the Power’s win against Richmond on Friday night.

Wingard collected a game-high 31 disposals in the 14-point win and was one of the Power’s most important players after spending the past few weeks being the target for criticism from former players and commentators for a lack of form.

Chad Wingard wraps up Reece Conca on Friday night. Picture Sarah Reed

He was lively from the first bounce, playing the entire game in the midfield, and was in partnership with Ollie Wines irresistible for his ball hunting, disposal and poise.

But Wingard laughed off the suggestion it was a response to the persistent line of questioning over his form which has asked why he has not been anywhere near the form of his All-Australian years in 2013 and 2015.

“I love the media sometimes, they’re pretty good,” Wingard said, tongue firmly in cheek. “They have a very good sense of humour.

“But nah, it doesn’t bother me. I just respond and play the game.”

Wingard, who made his All Australian teams and won club champion awards as a forward, said he was just as happy to play in the middle as in attack.

He noted the club’s abundance of midfield options as he, Robbie Gray and Travis Boak have proved they can be equally damaging there as in the forward line.

“It doesn’t matter (where I play),” Wingard said. “As long as we win, I don’t care.

“If Robbie (Gray) goes through there … we’ve got about seven or eight blokes who can go through there (the midfield).

“It’s a pretty good dynamic to have.”

The win against the premiership Tigers added another chapter to Port Adelaide’s season of unpredictability.

It at once showed that the Power — which now has a 7-4 win-loss record — is good enough to beat the best but also that there is a gulf between Port Adelaide’s best and worst efforts.

Wingard said it was a matter of maintaining intensity and consistency from here to become a more reliable team.

“It was a massive game, obviously taking on Richmond,” Wingard said. “We knew it was going to be a tough contest.

“It was a four-quarter effort. We didn’t have a patch of more than five or 10 minutes where we were beaten in all areas.

“We just played a consistent, four-quarter game.

“Everyone played their role and I think that’s the key; we don’t have to have superstars step up, just everybody playing their role.”

Jake Neade and Chad Wingard are all smiles as they head down to the rooms after the win. Picture Sarah Reed

Wingard said the other difference from the loss to Hawthorn in Launceston was cashing in on the good ruck work of Paddy Ryder.

He was dominant against the Hawks, too, but winning clearances and hit-outs then didn’t lead to a winning score.

Wingard suggested the level of intensity had been ramped up against the Tigers.

“You’ve got to set to tone from early on and I think Ollie (Wines) and ‘Pep’ (Sam Powell-Pepper) definitely did that,” Wingard said. “Paddy obviously had a big game and we just took advantage of Paddy’s dominance in the ruck.

“I think that set the game up.”