AFL delisted free agency: Collingwood meets with Chad Wingard in shock bid to poach delisted Hawthorn forward

Hawthorn is committed to re-selecting Chad Wingard in the rookie draft after delisted him this week – but the veteran forward has met with Collingwood.

Chad Wingard. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood has met with Hawthorn veteran forward Chad Wingard in a shock bid to poach the delisted goal kicker.

The Magpies spoke with Wingard and put him through a medical on Friday only one day after the Hawks delisted him.

While the Magpies clearly have a strong interest, it was believed Wingard’s preference on Friday night was to remain at Waverley.

Hawthorn remained confident on Friday night it would keep Wingard as a rookie for 2024.

But Collingwood can swoop on Wingard in the draft after the Hawks delisted him on Thursday with plans to rookie list him later this month.

Hawthorn are hoping to re-select Chad Wingard as a rookie. Picture: Michael Klein

It was a risky move from Hawthorn as the rookie move gave Collingwood a window to poach the forward in the draft on November 20-21.

Wingard could be tempted to cross to Collingwood to win a premiership as the Magpies shoot for back-to-back flags.

But Wingard, 30, will miss at least the first half of the season with an Achilles injury.

The former Port Adelaide goal kicker hurt himself late in the season following a form spike.

Gold Coast lost Hugh Greenwood to North Melbourne in 2021 when it delisted the midfielder with plans to rookie him.

The Hawks only re-signed Wingard on a one-year deal in September, not too long after he suffered his Achilles injury.

He has played 218 games over the last 12 years.

The Hawks have also delisted Cooper Stephens, just a year after they traded for him from Geelong in a three-way move that sent Tom Mitchell to Collingwood.