AS CHAD Wingard's star continues to rise, most in the football world remain baffled as to how he was 'overlooked' by Greater Western Sydney at the 2011 NAB AFL Draft.

The Giants had the first five selections at the draft and despite the athletic 18-year-old from Murray Bridge being touted as a top three pick, he slipped to Port Adelaide at No. 6.

Wingard's first 50 games have seen All Australian selection, a John Cahill Medal as the Power's best and fairest and several match-winning performances; he's proving not only the best player from his draft but his accomplishments inside 50 games stand up to almost anyone in the modern era.

So how did the Giants miss such a rare talent? They didn't.

Speaking exclusively to AFL.com.au, Wingard said he didn't slip under their radar, he just didn't want to be part of what they were building.

He said he had no option but to be totally up front with then senior assistant coach Mark Williams and coach Kevin Sheedy when the pair interviewed him ahead of the draft.

In what was a brave, considerate and mature move, he made it clear to the Giants they'd regret drafting him.

"I was pretty honest in how I was feeling," Wingard said.

"They're trying to build a team from nothing and if I lied to them and said 'yeah I want to be here and I'm going to be here for your future', they're putting all their chips on me [only] to find I want to go home in two years.

"They're pretty much going to lose me for nothing.

"So I think that because I was so honest, they still got to pick someone else who wanted to be there and they didn't get nothing for their pick three, four or five which was what they would have had [me at]."

The Giants would instead draft Dom Tyson at pick No. 3, Will Hoskin-Elliott at No. 4 and Matt Buntine at No. 5.

Wingard's open and frank stance shouldn't be confused with arrogance.

Indeed, many stories about his perceived over confidence circulated upon his entry to the AFL but the Power star said those were based more on a lack of understanding than truth.

"I think I might have came across that way but I was actually really shy coming in," he said.

"That comes off as arrogance because you're really shy to talk to people, you don't have confidence and it comes across the other way – you come across as if you're cocky and arrogant and that you're too good for this team.

"The team that we have now, it doesn't have any space or time for that kind of ego, it's a really good space to be in, everyone's got each other's back."













Chad Wingard pounds out some kilometres at training in late 2013. Picture: AFL Media





Regardless of how his personality was viewed early on, the 20-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the League's very best.

Last year, in his second season at AFL level, Wingard averaged 21 disposals a game and kicked 43 goals in 24 matches. It resulted in him gaining All Australian selection and his first best and fairest award.

In their respective second seasons, Chris Judd averaged 18 touches a game and Gary Ablett jnr 15 a game.

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, who burst onto the scene with similar brilliance to Wingard, averaged 25 touches a game.

Of the four, Wingard was the only one recognised with All Australian selection and as his club's best within two years of entering the competition.















Wingard's mix of athleticism, footy nous and sublime skills makes him a constant threat. Picture: AFL Media





Playing a role deeper in attack this year, he's on track to easily eclipse his 43 goals in 2013 - not bad for a guy who hates watching footy.

So bored is he with the game as a spectacle, Wingard said that outside of his training requirements, he hadn't watched a single game this year.

Even growing up, he admitted he watched only "one or two" games of the sport he now starred in.

But although he'd rather forget about football in his down time, Wingard thrives on game day.

He said it was the creativity of the game that captured his imagination.

"I actually haven't watched a game of footy this year, dead set," he said.

"I love playing the game … some guys are diehard fans and some guys are like me, just a diehard player.

"There's so much freedom in the game – there is structure and there are plans that you have to do, but unlike basketball where there's set plays and you've got to be in an exact position, football is random and you can make it up as you go."



