Chad Wingard, a veteran forward, is said to have had a medical with Collingwood less than a day after being officially delisted by Hawthorn.
While the Hawks have committed to re-listing Wingard, stating that he will remain in brown and gold through 2024 via a spot on their rookie list, Sam Mitchell’s team now has competition for the 30-year-old’s services.
Wingard met with Collingwood powerbrokers Graham Wright and Craig McRae on Friday, as first reported by Michael Gleeson of The Age, while undergoing a medical with the Magpies.
Though the reigning premier’s level of commitment to moving forward remains ambiguous, Wright, McRae, and Wingard have a previous professional relationship, having worked together at Waverley Park.
However, as Gleeson stated, sources indicate that Wingard is eager to stick to the original plan and return to the Hawks for a sixth season.
Wingard was released on Thursday in order to make room on Hawthorn’s senior list, with the club stating that he would be a Hawk again in this month’s rookie draft.
Wingard’s move to the secondary list was made easier by the fact that the Murray Bridge native will be unavailable for the start of next season after injuring himself late in his 2023 season.
Wingard, a dual All-Australian during his time at Alberton, has appeared on just 71 occasions for Hawthorn since joining from Port Adelaide at the end of 2018, failing to truly fire at his second home.
The 2023 AFL Rookie Draft will take place on Wednesday, November 23 – the day after the two-night National Draft concludes.
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