IT'S CHAD Wingard's decision whether he wants to stay at Port Adelaide but football manager Chris Davies says "right now, there's nothing to suggest he wants to leave".
Wingard is contracted until the end of 2019 and Davies acknowledged the talented but inconsistent star could explore his options, with the Western Bulldogs among the interested Victorian clubs.
"Where contracts have got to in the AFL competition is that with a year to go, whether it's the player or the manager or the club in some instances, they look at what they can potentially get in a year's time and work back from there," Davies told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Thursday.
The Power know what Wingard wants is pivotal.
"We're not the first cab off the rank in all of this. Chad is," Davies said.
"Fundamentally, Chad's got to have an offer that would suggest that he wants to go and right now, that's not the conversation that we're having. That'll play out over the coming days and weeks I'm sure."
INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER Your club's picks
However, Davies said Port doesn't want the 25-year-old to leave.
"Unless Chad gets to a point where he's got an offer on the table that would suggest he wants to leave, we plan for him to stay in 2019," Davies said.
"We're certainly not going to force Chad out. If he wants to stay at our footy club in 2019, he'll be here."
The Power are set to lose wingman Jared Polec to North Melbourne on a five-year deal worth more than $3.5 million.
North currently holds No.10 in this year's NAB AFL Draft, although that is set to be pushed to No.11 with Gold Coast likely to receive an early compensation pick for the departing Tom Lynch, who is headed to Richmond.
WHO'S LEAVING YOUR CLUB? All the latest retirements and delistings
"We would suggest that there's a price to pay for someone like Jared. I don't think that their first pick is something that we would be unfair in asking for," Davies said.
"In fairness, North are considering that at the moment. It's probably just more about what they would want in return for that."
NAB AFL TRADE HUB Latest news, videos and live blog
Port Adelaide will target midfielders with speed and class to help replace Polec.
"It's fair to say that's the type of player we're going to be looking for throughout the trade period and also the drafting period," Davies said.
Restricted free agent and West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett seems destined to land at the Power, having met with coach Ken Hinkley.
"My understanding is he’s probably had a discussion with Ken over the last little bit," Davies said.
"Before any club finalises a deal in these situations, you've obviously got to go through a process of medicals and so on."
