Chad Wingard trade will push Port Adelaide and Hawthorn to Wednesday’s trade deadline
PORT Adelaide will not have its urgent needs answered by Hawthorn serving up Ryan Burton to close the Chad Wingard trade but it might be a deal the Power and Burton have to accept.
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PORT Adelaide is still to be sold on Hawthorn defender Ryan Burton in the rocky trade for contracted midfielder-forward Chad Wingard that is expected to drag to Wednesday’s deadline.
The headline deal for the final days of the AFL trade period remained in limbo on Sunday as the Power went through “extensive due diligence” on Burton both at home and in the US where the South Australian is on holiday.
And Burton - on contract to the Hawks to the end of 2020 - will be advised to ignore his veto right on the trade endorsed by coach Alastair Clarkson who has repeatedly ignored sentiment in his list management.
TWIST: HAWKS WANT TO KEEP BURTON
RUCCI: WINGARD OUT BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN
Hawthorn’s first offer of pick No.15 and South Australian Burton remains short of Port Adelaide’s first preferences for 25-year-old Wingard.
Coach Ken Hinkley’s first demand - before Wingard had nominated Hawthorn as his club of choice - of two first-round draft picks appears out of reach with the Hawks.
They currently have picks No.15, 35 and 53 and either 35 or 53 are to be traded for Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Scully.
Port Adelaide’s need for accurate ballmovers and class on its list is partially answered by 21-year-old Burton but he is not the instant line-breaking replacement for wingman Jared Polec, who has moved to North Melbourne on a five-year, $3.5 million deal.
And the change to AFL rules with 6-6-6 starting positions - and restrictions on where wingmen are placed around the centre square on restarts - poses more questions on whether Burton fits the frame of the new-look wingman to be favoured next season.
Port Adelaide accepts Burton could fit into its well-stocked defensive options, quickly replacing Jack Hombsch for taking intercept marks.
And the 2017 Rising Star runner-up could ultimately emerge a key forward option later in his career, particularly when 28-year-old Charlie Dixon retires.
All four parties involved in the trade - that must be ratified by 8pm (ACDT) Wednesday - have had weekends of strong reflections.
Port Adelaide has sent one of its medical team to test Burton, who is on holiday in the US.
The Power does need reassurances on Burton, who entered the 2015 draft with questions after breaking a leg in SANFL action.
Hawthorn has had to deal with the fallout from a fan base preferring to keep Burton rather than take Wingard, an All-Australian in 2013 and 2015.
It was the Hawks who put up Burton for the trade rather than the Power asking for him.
Hawthorn’s back-up plans to appease Port Adelaide are thin, more so when novice midfielder Kieran Lovell and key forward Tim O’Brien are not appealing at Alberton.
Putting up the 2019 first-round draft pick with this year’s No.15 would be Hawthorn’s last-resort option.
Burton has had to overcome the initial shock of becoming trade bait to consider his professional football career.
Defying Clarkson would not seem practical, particularly when the premiership coach has a clear agenda on what his team needs to progress.
Wingard has to contemplate his fallback position, the return to Alberton to complete his contract if this trade stalls. He would have the incentive of playing 2019 to enhance his value in the free agency market.
Port Adelaide would get a first-round compensation pick for losing Wingard as a free agent next year.
Wingard remains the last big-ticket play in the SA corner of the national trade market.
Adelaide should close a homecoming trade for Richmond rookie-listed forward Tyson Stengle. As the Crows have no current third-round draft pick, the Tigers might have to take a 2019 call from Adelaide.
The trade period for players ends at 8pm (ACDT) on Wednesday but can continue - for the first time - with the swap of draft picks until November 16.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
Originally published as Chad Wingard trade will push Port Adelaide and Hawthorn to Wednesday’s trade deadline
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