MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Chad Wingard of the Hawks celebrates a win during the 2019 AFL round 03 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 07, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

Hawthorn recruit Chad Wingard sees himself playing predominantly in the forward line for the Hawks this season.

The 25-year-old made his debut in the Brown & Gold in last weekend’s match against North Melbourne, with the former Power player putting in an impressive display at the MCG.

Much conjecture has risen in regards to where Wingard will spend the majority of his time on-field this season, but the two-time All-Australian has put all debate to bed.

“I’ll definitely play forward,” Wingard told SEN Breakfast on Thursday.

“Clarko’s made that pretty clear with all his messaging and what he’s told me.

“I think they wanted someone up forward with a little bit more creativity and trying to put some pressure on.

“We’ve got some good players in that midfield and obviously with Tom Mitchell down, but you see the boys who have been stepping up and playing those roles.

“We’ve got guys (through the midfield) in the VFL who have been playing good footy.”

Wingard departed Alberton at the end of the 2018 season, in a much-publicised trade from the Power, and is happy to put all of that behind him.

“All the distractions off field at Port Adelaide with all the players and everything that was going on, just to get the space in my head free again and all I have to worry about here is football, which is nice,” he added.

The high-flyer has already noticed the differences in the football landscape between Melbourne and Adelaide.

“It’s a massive fishbowl (in Adelaide),” he added.

“There are only two teams to worry about and there’s not much other sport going on in winter”, Wingard says.

“When you come to Melbourne there’s so much going on here. 10 teams to watch over and plenty of news to go around.

“Sometimes in Adelaide, they’ve really got to make up the news because there’s just not enough for people to want to read.”

“Training out at Waverley and not getting hassled by media all the time is really good.

“Clarko and Hawthorn have been really good like that and all we have to do is focus on footy.”

Wingard will be hoping to do exactly that this Sunday, as the Hawks face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.