The 2018 Trade Period is in full swing and as the deadline for player movement fast approaches on Wednesday, the Western Bulldogs have been in discussions with certain players and draft picks, unfortunately for now, not much has been done on the end of the red, white and blues.
One player that was linked to the club over the past few weeks is Port Adelaide player Chad Wingard, who looks set to depart the Power either this year or next year via free agency – whichever way you see it, it looks more likely than not that he will not be playing for the Power within the next couple of years.
However, it was revealed late last week that Wingard nominated Hawthorn as his preferred club. Since then, I've heard a lot of silly things about how this club can't recruit big name players and also the so-called 'inabilty' to retain players. There is a lot of things wrong with this, and I'm very much inclined to say that this club is in a good spot for next year. Regardless of who we bring in or not and regardless of who walks out of the club.
For now, let's just talk about Mr. Wingard. He's 25 and is entering the prime stages of his career. His resume already is pretty impressive. In just his second year at the club (2013), he was named an All-Australian and was Port's best and fairest winner in a side that surged into the finals for the first time in six years. He has then been named Port's leading goal-kicker in back-to-back seasons (2015-16) and was also named an All-Australian in the 2015 season.
Between 2013-16, Wingard has kicked a combined total of 177 of his 232 career goals in that time frame. We know his talent, on his day can be lethal and match-winning and certainly capable of giving opposition defenders headaches. So why am I saying that he's not worth a pick seven?
Considering that Port selected him with the sixth overall pick back in the 2011 AFL Draft, trading away the seventh pick in the draft for someone who has the talent to be a match winner sounds logical right? Well here's where it's wrong.
Granted, Wingard is a damn good player, and extremely talented. He has been practically since he came into the AFL system. My problem is that in the Port games I've watched in recent years, Wingard has the tendency to bob in and out of games without actually being a threat to the opposition. Last year he only averaged 1.2 goals per game, which was down to the 2.1 goals per game in 2016 and the 2.4 he averaged in 2015.
The stats will suggest that coach Ken Hinkley moved him as a forward to more of a high half-forward/midfielder role and whilst he has found more of the footy, averaging 22.1 disposals per game in 2017 and just over 20 per game this year, he's not having as much of an influence on games as opposed to two or three years ago. Is this a subtle way of saying he's not happy playing more up the ground? Or is it that he peaked way too early? It's hard to digress from this point of view. I've read from numerous supporters online in forums that he has lazy tendencies and attitude problems, which could make some sense as to why his form has tapered off a bit, but again, it's a bit hard to digress from an outsiders standpoint.
Supporters – in this instance, Bulldogs and Hawks supporters – have unsurprisingly been excited about the prospect of Wingard making the jump. However, I don't think he's worth the asking price. I have heard from media outlets that he is demanding a long-term contract that is worth $850,000 a season. Given the form he has displayed over the last 24 months, I wouldn't be paying him that much. He'd be worth between 550-600 at best. F
Upon hearing the news of Wingard choosing Hawks over the Bulldogs. I wasn't particularly shocked, nor was I upset about it. Not shocked because the Dogs' history of luring big-name recruits isn't as good as other Victorian clubs such as Hawthorn, Essendon or Collingwood – and that's pure fact.
Not upset because Wingard is in a sense, overrated. He's not worth the money he's asking for and he's not worth the first round draft pick we have in our hands right now. It isn't all doom and gloom as the talent that the Bulldogs have right now is as promising as it was when Luke Beveridge walked in the door.
If Wingard wanted to play in the middle more (Doubt it, but let's just say in a hypothetical sense), he'd have to compete with the likes of Bontempelli, Macrae, Dunkley, McLean, Hunter and a returning Tom Liberatore, amongst a host of other young talent – there's almost no need for him there.
Up forward, he could be given more of a chance to thrive, but given that the Dogs have young talent such as Fergus Greene, Billy Gowers, Josh Schache, Pat Lipinski all developing their craft, along with veterans such as Tory Dickson and a returning Liam Picken and potentially picking up Sam Lloyd from Richmond – who is actually a smart acquisition – there is spots there up for grabs and again, there's not really a need for him there.
With the seventh pick in the draft, there is a young man who carries a lot of talent that's waiting to join the Western Bulldogs. It could be someone like Izak Rankine, who oozes class and has remarkable acceleration and agility. It may be someone like Connor Rozee who has a knack of finding the goals and possesses the forward pressure so critical in the AFL these days, or it could be an unlikely chance the Dogs nab Bailey Smith, who has tremendous work ethic, has no trouble winning his own ball and has the pace to be a legitimate weapon down the line.
Also keep in mind that the Bulldogs should get Father/Son prospect Rhylee West and Academy selection Buku Khamis in this draft and both should provide solid depth in the midfield and the back line respectively. Add another pre-season to all the young boys in this squad and there is no reason why this side can rise again.
The Western Bulldogs will be just fine without Chad Wingard – Hawthorn can have him.