Chad Wingard’s former teammate Kane Cornes has criticized the Hawthorn star for his antics during Saturday night’s beating by Gold Coast Suns in Darwin.
A nearly 50-point deficit early in the third quarter, Wingard appeared to accentuate Charlie Ballard’s contact in the front 50 and failed to get a free kick, before scoring a stylish goal moments later as the ball bounced back into the attacking 50.
Wingard then appeared to wave his arms over his head at Ballard after the goal, while Ballard chuckled and Wingard continued to verbally taunt his opponent as the ball returned to the center square.
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Cornes, who played with Wingard during their time in Port Adelaide, said the behavior was not on his mind.
“I have to say I didn’t like this about Chad Wingard,” he said.
“He’s involved in a match in the forward 50 and that’s just blatant play for a free kick. So, if Michael Christian (Match Review Officer) doesn’t fine him (for staging)…then the ball comes right back in and he miraculously bounces off his feet and kicks a great goal, which Chad can do.
“This (mocking) after, you’re 40 points lower, you’re not Luke Parker, we saw that with Dylan Shiel. I just think you have to get your head in and understand where you are as a club and where you are as a player.
“Yes, very talented and you could never question his competitiveness, but it was an ordinary effort.
“I think that’s embarrassing and Sam Mitchell should probably say something to him.”
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