Port Adelaide happy to have Chad Wingard but wary of reaping full trade value
WHILE Port Adelaide is happy for Chad Wingard to stay at the club next year, the Power must weigh up one important element: trade him now while he has value or risk him flying the nest in 12 months.
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PORT Adelaide is not prepared to extend Chad Wingard’s contract past 2019 this summer as a trade to a Victorian side remains a live prospect.
The Power had a huge win when West Coast declined to match a five-year offer for premiership ruckman Scott Lycett, who moves to the Adelaide club as a restricted free agent.
Port Adelaide made it clear they were happy with Wingard staying at the club next year and far from upset about an Instagram post where he stated fans should only listen to him or his management.
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But the Power will have to weigh up the prospect he could leave as a restricted free agent next year with what they can obtain in a trade at a Melbourne club this year.
The Herald Sun understands they are not ready to offer him the substantial money he would want in exchange for signing a long-term deal and thereby giving up his free agency rights.
Hawthorn missed out on Dylan Shiel and is expected to emerge as a legitimate contender for Wingard.
If the Power trade him now to a club like Hawthorn, St Kilda or the Bulldogs they could maximise his worth rather than him leaving for a mid-teens pick next year if Port Adelaide make finals.
The Western Bulldogs have pick six in this year’s draft and the Hawks pick 15.
Davies said the Power were more than happy for Wingard to stay, having tested his market worth at Victorian clubs.
“Unless Chad tells us he wants to leave the footy club, he will be with us in 2019. At the end of the day he’s a restricted free agent next year, so right now we are planning on him being at the club in 2018 and then we will reassess through 2019 what the long-term future is.”
Asked about the Instagram post, Davies was unfussed: “It is what it is. I don’t have an account but Chad can write whatever he wants to on Instagram.”
Port Adelaide had followed local player Lycett throughout his AFL career and had attempted to lure him home four years ago when he last came out of contract at the Power.
“We knew Scott from the Port Adelaide juniors and tried to obtain him four years ago now when he last signed a contract so were keen to get him back.
“Obviously throughout the year he was a restricted free agent and given our form and our issues without Paddy it suggested we needed a high quality ruck backup.
“Scott has a history of being able to compete in the West Coast forward line so I would imagine he and Paddy would share ruck duties. That will ultimately be decided by Ken but right now it looks like they will share duties.”
Contracted defender Jasper Pittard is still likely to move on after being told by the Power to consider other opportunities.
He has suitors and while he is well-paid at the Power at his best he is a hard-running defender who uses the ball well.
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Originally published as Port Adelaide happy to have Chad Wingard but wary of reaping full trade value