Port Adelaide youngster Chad Wingard’s vision is improving rapdily, raising hopes he will play in the Power’s clash with Sydney at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
The 18-year-old was subbed off in the second quarter of the Round 2 loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium, after suffering a knock to his eye in a heavy clash.
Port Adelaide general manager - football Peter Rohde said Wingard’s sight had improved quickly.
“It seems to be getting better all the time, but he’ll see a specialist during the week to make sure,” Rohde told PortAdelaideFC.com.au on Sunday.
“He had blurred vision in the one eye that seemed to come from a bit of a knock on the surface, but there doesn’t seem to be too much damage.
“His sight was actually getting better by the time he got on the plane in Melbourne last night (Saturday).
“It appears that he hasn’t done any damage to the actual eye itself.”
Wingard - who was chosen by the Power with Pick 6 at last year’s National Draft - was in promising touch early against the Bombers, kicking his first AFL goal to put the Power 13 points up mid-way through the opening term.
Assistant coach Brad Gotch said Port missed Wingard’s speed and disposal in the forward line after he was taken from the ground.
“We certainly lost a lot by not having him in that forward line because … of the leg speed,” Gotch told FIVEaa.
“Also, his cleanness and his skill level and his decision making. I think we lost that a fair bit by him going off the ground.”
While the Bombers opened a 21-point lead at half time, the Power bounced back without Wingard to close the gap to just two points at the final change before going down by 25 points.
The Power takes on the Swans from 1.40pm on Saturday, returning to its home ground where it opened 2012 with an exciting win over St Kilda.