Intrigue continues to mount over Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard, with the AFL club insisting there is still no suggestion the playmaker wants out.
Wingard is contracted to Port for another season but his future has been a topic of great speculation for months.
Western Bulldogs confirmed last week, before trade period had formally started, they wanted to recruit the 25-year-old.
Power football manager Chris Davies confirmed a number of clubs have expressed an interest in the forward/midfielder, who has booted 232 goals from 147 games.
“But none of those have been compelling enough for us to change our mind, or certainly; and this is the first cab off the rank, for Chad to suggest he wants to go,” Davies told AFL Trade Radio.
“He’s contracted for 2019.
“There’s no conversation we’ve had with Chad or his management that suggests he definitely wants out.
“We’re planning for Chad to be at our footy club in 2019.”
Wingard released a cryptic message on social media last week, noting fans will hear his side of the story when “the time is right”.
“Unless a statement comes from me or my management, don’t listen to them,” Wingard posted on Instagram.
Port great Kane Cornes suggested on the Nine Network that “the club’s not happy with that statement, they’re furious”.
“If you’ve got Chad Wingard not happy with the footy club and the club not happy with Wingard for that statement, it is almost to the point where I’m not sure he can go back,” Cornes said.
Port officially signed West Coast free agent Scott Lycett on Tuesday, when the Eagles confirmed they wouldn’t match a five-year offer believed to be worth $3 million.
Lycett will share ruck duties with Paddy Ryder.
“It’s going to necessitate a need for Ken (coach Ken Hinkley) and our coaching group to rethink the way that we play the game,” Davies said.
“I imagine that they will mix and match in the ruck and also playing forward.”
Lycett thanked the premiership-winning Eagles for making him a better player and person.
“I am excited to be coming home to South Australia and to the club that I supported since my childhood,” he said.