After battling injuries in 2024, Hawthorn veteran Chad Wingard announces retirement

After failing to get on the field for an AFL game in 2024, a two-time All Australian Hawk has retired with his team on the rise.

Chad Wingard has called time on his career. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hawthorn veteran Chad Wingard has called time on his career after an injury-filled final season at the club left him unable to add to his 218 AFL games.

The 30-year-old two-time All-Australian played 71 games across five seasons at the Hawks, having joined from Port Adelaide for the 2019 season.

He battled calf issues this season, making it back to play with Hawthorn’s VFL side last Saturday before confirming his retirement on Monday.

“Thank you to the Port Adelaide Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club for shaping me in to the player and person I am today,” he posted on Instagram.

“To the fans of this great game, thank you, and I hope I played a small part in entertaining you on the weekends during my journey.

BREAKING: Chad Wingard has announced his retirement via his Instagram. 218 games, 71 with Hawthorn. Two All-Australian nods among his many accolades. An electrifying player with plenty of X-factor, and we were lucky to see him bring some of that to his career in brown and gold.… pic.twitter.com/ZrkVoGNyoG

— Hawk Talk Podcast (@HawkTalkPod) September 2, 2024

“Lastly, to my family, thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to be my best every day.”

Wingard’s retirement announcement comes ahead of Hawthorn’s eliminating final showdown with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night.

It’s Hawthorn’s first appearance in the finals since 2018.