AFL: Hawthorn’s Chad Wingard to miss several weeks after suffering hamstring setback

Chad Wingard had just shaken a calf injury but will miss several more games because of a new training setback.

Injury-riddled Hawk Chad Wingard faces more time on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring setback. Picture: Getty Images

Chad Wingard won’t join fellow All-Australian Jack Gunston and rising star Will Day in returning for Hawthorn on Sunday after suffering a hamstring setback.

Wingard was on track to be fit to play against Greater Western Sydney after missing last week’s loss to the Western Bulldogs with a calf injury but now faces more weeks on the sidelines.

The 28-year-old has played no more than 17 games in any of his four season at Waverley Park after crossing from Port Adelaide in a high-profile trade that saw Ryan Burton and two top-35 picks exchanged.

Wingard missed a combined five games with calf and hamstring issues last season as well, with his latest injury coming at a time the Hawks are trying to end a four-game losing skid.

He rejected the Giants’ trade period overtures last year to remain in brown and gold but has rarely reached the same heights he did at the Power and turns 29 in July.

Jack Gunston is fit again after a cursed run with ankle injuries. Picture: Getty Images

Hawthorn has shown promise under rookie coach Sam Mitchell, including winning its first two matches of the season, but has since lost 10 of 12 games to sink into the bottom four.

Mitchell has prioritised youth more than his predecessor Alastair Clarkson did in his final years in charge, with mid-season draftee James Blanck last week becoming the Hawks’ fifth debutant this season.

That process was fast-tracked because of injury, with captain Ben McEvoy, Sam Frost, recruit Max Lynch and second-year forward Tyler Brockman all still sidelined.

But the additions of Gunston and Day will bolster Hawthorn for the clash with GWS, which, like the Hawks, has won only four of 14 games in 2022.

Will Day has exited Covid protocols in time to play Greater Western Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Gunston has played just once since mid-May because of separate injuries to his right ankle, the second in his return match in round 12.

The 30-year-old forward trained strongly this week after not being quite ready to play against the Western Bulldogs last Friday night.

Day has exited Covid protocols after missing the Bulldogs defeat and was able to train at home while in isolation.

In some good news for Hawthorn, big men McEvoy (neck) and Lynch (concussion) underwent a reconditioning phase before joining in skills training with the rest of the group late last week.