Chad Wingard wants indigenous officers at all AFL clubs

CHAD Wingard would like to see an indigenous welfare officer at every AFL club as indigenous draftee numbers hit a 10-year high.

Karl Amon, Jake Neade, Brandon Ah Chee and Chad Wingard at a junior clinic as part of the AFL/AFLPA indigenous training camp in Broome. Picture: AFL Photos

CHAD Wingard would like to see an indigenous welfare officer at every AFL club and more Aboriginal families becoming host parents as indigenous draftee numbers hit a 10-year high.

Port Adelaide’s dual All-Australian has just returned from a four-day indigenous training camp in Broome where 55 players combined physical training with discussions around culture and player retention at AFL level.

The Power is seen by many as a league leader in its commitment to fostering indigenous growth in the game with three full-time staff, Paul Vandenberg, Marlon Motlop and John Hinge, overseeing welfare and programs including the Aboriginal Power Cup.

According to the AFL Players’ Association, four other clubs have a specialist indigenous welfare officer – Melbourne, West Coast, North Melbourne and Gold Coast – while Fremantle and Collingwood have an indigenous contact person but not full-time liaison.

Last week was the third time Wingard, 23, has been on the camp run by the AFLPA and which he said was an important chance to build a support system for all indigenous players in the competition.

“It’s something we can always keep improving on because 15 per cent of players drafted (last year) are of indigenous race so it’s about keeping them in the competition for as long as we can,” Wingard said. “When I got drafted I had Danyle Pearce there who was another person from my area so I had him to lean on.

Chad Wingard at training. Picture: Sarah Reed

“And we’re lucky at Port Adelaide because we have an indigenous representative who helps us because we have nine players now at the club, so we have that person we can lean on if we have any issues.

“I wouldn’t mind if we could get a few more indigenous families doing host parenting.

“It doesn’t have to be indigenous host parents but even if they get a bit more understanding of what it’s like to look after an indigenous player, especially for young ones it can be tough and they don’t really open up to many people.”

Wingard lives with his brother and father in Adelaide where family is at the centre of his being. He is the middle child of his family with brothers either side as well as four foster siblings making seven kids in total.

“I’m pretty strong with my culture and family, it’s very close to my heart,” he said.

“I’m from Murray Bridge which is Ngarrindjeri land and my old man is from Kaurna so it’s pretty lucky I get to play for the country my old man was born in. It’s a huge badge of honour I wear on my shoulders every day.”

The camp included a traditional welcome to country as well as fishing, dancing, gym work and football training.

Having missed the last two games of last season due to injury and Port Adelaide missing finals again, it’s been a long summer for Wingard and his team-mates.

“I just really want to get stuck into it – it’s frustrating not playing finals but the grudge match starts again in round one, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Originally published as Chad Wingard wants indigenous officers at all AFL clubs