‘Pull your head in’: Star blasted for ‘embarrassing’ boast in AFL thrashing

AFL veteran Chad Wingard has been taken to task by Kane Cornes after he took issue with two elements of one sequence of play.

Chad Wingard was slammed by Kane Cornes. Photo: Fox Sports

Chad Wingard has come under fire after a bizarre sequence of play during Hawthorn’s 67-point loss to the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

The rebuilding Hawks were flying high after defeating Brisbane last week but came crashing back to earth against the Suns.

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Both sides have been in patchy form this year and sit outside the top eight.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show, Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes voiced his disapproval of Wingard’s antics in the third quarter.

Down by 47, the Hawks star was trying to do everything he could to bring his team back into the game. After he was held in a tackle, Wingard appeared to fling himself backwards, seemingly hoping to earn a free kick.

However, the referee’s whistle stayed silent before the ball quickly came back to Wingard, who booted a great goal.

“I didn’t like this from Chad Wingard,” Cornes said. “He was involved in a contest in the forward 50, that’s just a blatant play for a free kick.

“If Michael Christian doesn’t fine him (something is wrong).

“The ball comes back in, he miraculously bounces back to his feet and kicks a great goal – which Chad can do.”

Cornes wants Wingard charged for staging. Photo: Fox Sports

Cornes then bumped on Wingard’s reaction to kicking the major. After celebrating with his teammates, he made a beeline for Suns defender Charlie Ballard, whose failed spoil led directly to the goal.

Wingard trolled Ballard with a gesture and while the Gold Coast star laughed off the sledge, Cornes labelled the incident “embarrassing” as the Hawks were so far behind.

“This … you’re 40 points down, you’re not Luke Parker — we saw that with Dylan Shiel,” Cornes said. “I just think you need to pull your head in and understand where you are as a club and where you are as a player.

“Yes, he’s highly talented, you could never question his competitiveness. But it was an ordinary effort and I think that’s embarrassing.

“(Hawthorn coach) Sam Mitchell should probably have a word to him.”

Wingard taunted despite being down by 41 on the scoreboard. Photo: Fox Sports

Originally published as ‘Pull your head in’: Star blasted for ‘embarrassing’ boast in AFL thrashing