Wingard was born on 29 July 1993[3] in Murray Bridge, South Australia. His father, Trevor,[4] is Aboriginal man, and his mother Julie is Irish.[5][6] His father is a descendant of Kudnarto, who is notable for being the first Aboriginal woman to legally marry a European settler in the colony of South Australia, making legal history in 1848.[7] As of 2018[update], mother Julie worked at an emergency accommodation centre.[4]
Wingard has an older brother and a younger brother, as well as five younger foster siblings.[8][9]
He attended school to year 12 in Murray Bridge.[5]
At 16 and 60 kg, Wingard was a member of Murray Bridge's 2009 Imperial Football Club league team that won the River Murray Football League premiership, kicking five goals including three of most freakish you'd wish to see", according to the coach.[10][11] Wingard also played basketball as a child, and was the captain of South Australia's under-16 basketball team.[12]
AFL career
Wingard playing for Port Adelaide in April 2018
Wingard made his debut for Port Adelaide in round 1, 2012 against St Kilda. His breakout game came during Port Adelaide's round 22, 2012 loss to the Brisbane Lions where he received an AFL Rising Star nomination for his 27 disposal, 1 goal and 5 mark performance.
For season 2013, which was only his second season, he averaged 21.3 disposals a game and kicked 43 goals. He was named in the 2013 All-Australian team, making him the youngest player to make an All-Australian team since Mark Ricciuto in 1994.[13] Wingard's 2013 season also saw him win the Showdown Medal for his five-goal performance in round 19 against the Adelaide Crows where he was described after the match as "Port's most exciting player since Gavin Wanganeen."[14] At season's end, he was rewarded with the John Cahill Medal, making him the youngest player to win a best and fairest at Port Adelaide since Craig Bradley in 1982.[15]
Wingard's 2014 season saw his averages drop from 21 disposals per game to 16 per game, however he still managed to kick 43 goals in total. He won the Mark of the Year in round 12 against St Kilda by jumping high on the shoulders of Sean Dempster.[16]
Season 2015 is considered Wingard's greatest season to date. He booted a career high 53 goals to be the club's leading goal kicker of the season by kicking multiple goals in every game from rounds 8 to 22 as well as kicking at least one goal in every game until round 23. Wingard also averaged 19.2 disposals a game and was recognised with the All-Australian selection, a stunning achievement for a player having completed just his fourth year at AFL level.[17]
At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Wingard sought a trade from Port Adelaide. He eventually requested a trade to Hawthorn, and was traded on 17 October.[18]
Hawthorn traded their first round pick and promising youngster Ryan Burton for Wingard.[18] During the preseason Wingard developed a calf complaint that forced him to miss all the warm up games and the first two games of the 2019 season. He made his debut for his new club against North Melbourne and kicked three goals to help win the match.[20]
Since crossing to Hawthorn, Chad has often had to deal with soft tissue injuries, these injuries have caused him to miss games in every season. Wingard has signed a new contract at Hawthorn for 2024 even though he will spend most of 2024 in rehab after rupturing his Achilles tendon in round 22 of the 2023.[21] Wingard did not play for Hawthorn throughout the 2024 AFL season, and announced his retirement following the conclusion of the home-and-away season. Wingard played 218 games across 12 years at Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.[22]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
