Player Watch #2 Hayden McLean

[Kennedy Parker]

Hayden McLean

Player Profile
Pre-season supplementary list rules allowed the Sydney Swans to sign Hayden McLean

2

Hayden Mclean

Age

27

Ht

197cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.1

2star

K

5.1

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.0

5star

G

0.4

3star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.3

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.2

3star

in March 2019, and while injury ruled out the key-position player for seven of the first 10 NEAFL games of the season, he’d respond in commanding fashion. The former Sandringham Dragons skipper made his AFL debut as Sydney met Fremantle in Round 18, 2019, which saw him battle imposing ruck trio Aaron Sandilands

Aaron Sandilands

Age

43

Ht

211cm

Wt

118kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

4.4

2star

HB

8.2

5star

CL

3.3

5star

HO

31.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

5.4

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

2.0

2star

HO

13.6

5star

, Sean Darcy

4

Sean Darcy

Age

27

Ht

203cm

Wt

111kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.1

3star

K

3.4

1star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

2.4

4star

HO

28.8

5star

D

6.8

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

1.8

4star

HO

20.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

6.8

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

32.0

5star

and Rory Lobb

7

Rory Lobb

Age

33

Ht

207cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.4

4star

MG

174.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

MG

228.6

3star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.8

5star

MG

133.0

3star

, as well as a parochial Optus Stadium crowd. Coach John Longmire praised McLean’s debut performance and he finished the season with four AFL games beside his name. The 197-centimetre, 93-kilogram giant is chasing consistent AFL selection in 2020. Draft history: 2019 pre-season supplementary rookie selection

Hayden McLean

2

Hayden Mclean

Age

27

Ht

197cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.1

2star

K

5.1

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.0

5star

G

0.4

3star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.3

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.2

3star

DOB:20 January 1999
DRAFT:2018
RECRUITED FROM: Beaumaris (Vic)/St Bede's Coll (Vic)/ Sand U18/Sand (VFL)

Hayden McLean | AFL

Follow Hayden McLean's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[bedford]

With the new ruck rules its easier for FFs to chop out for a few.
We have Lladhams as backup should Grundy go down.
Green should be coming of age soon.
We have a few green talls on the list.

Green is at least 2 Months away

 

[Kiama Chris]

It’s a fair question, as McLean is already no.4 or 5 in the pecking order & the club will be hoping King, Hetherton and/or Chamberlain emerge.

Depth is handy. But if (hypothetically) Tassie showed interest, I’d be listening to what they might be prepared to offer.

King, Hetherton and Chamberlain are all still twigs and have had one preseason. Hetherton had a dodgy back last year and of course King is out for a good while. Can't see any of those three as relief ruck any time soon, if ever.
McLean is the only AFL experienced tall forward we have other than the three currently playing and is likely to be so all this season and most, if not all, next season. His contract expires at the end of next year, Amartey this year, McDonald 28, Curnow 30.
For the rucks Grundy, Ladhams and Green, all also 2027.
What happens if Amartey walks? There are no replacements on the market.
McLean is vital depth and we would be mad to trade him out.

 

[zyzzbruh]

The new ruck rules appear to heavily favour the spring-heeled jumpers, as opposed to rucks whose primary attribute is strength.

Sean Darcy at Freo is one who is clearly disadvantaged.

And as you’ve pointed out, with the lasso rule, there’s less ruck contests around the ground.

I’ve never really rated McLean as a forward, but saw him as an adequate chop-out ruck.

Now - it’s a bit harder to see how he could fit into the side.

As much as I want to to see Ladhams succeed and love his quirks, i feel everyone is unjustifiably putting him ahead of Mclean in the pecking order.

Let's be real, even with Mcleans shortcomings i'd still be picking him ahead of Ladhams every day of the week and twice from Friday to Sunday. He is by far and away the most reliable of our backup talls and should be next in line whether it be ruck or forward replacement.

 

[Millky95]

As much as I want to to see Ladhams succeed and love his quirks, i feel everyone is unjustifiably putting him ahead of Mclean in the pecking order.

Let's be real, even with Mcleans shortcomings i'd still be picking him ahead of Ladhams every day of the week and twice from Friday to Sunday. He is by far and away the most reliable of our backup talls and should be next in line whether it be ruck or forward replacement.

As a number 1 ruck replacement, I have Ladhams ahead of McLean. As a forward who pinch hits in the ruck, I have McLean ahead of Ladhams.

The real question is what would we do if we wanted to give Grundy more bench time during the season and want a second ruck in that 5th bench spot

 

[zyzzbruh]

As a number 1 ruck replacement, I have Ladhams ahead of McLean. As a forward who pinch hits in the ruck, I have McLean ahead of Ladhams.

The real question is what would we do if we wanted to give Grundy more bench time during the season and want a second ruck in that 5th bench spot

Easy, it's Mclean. Grundy would still be taking up majority of the ruck time, so imo the difference between Mclean and Ladhams ruck craft would be obsolete, and they would be expected to spend some time up forward.

I feel Ladhams on the field is just list clogger territory. He's not exceptional at anything. He's an ok tap ruckman, an ok mark, skills are questionable, consistency and impact negligable. He's that type of player who i just don't think gives you much out there in terms of overall impact. If Grundy got injured and all we needed was someone to come in and attempt to compete and somewhat break even, then sure. But playing him in a rotation within our current squad imo just weakens us. At least Mclean is very much capable of having clear and obvious impact on the final result,he's done it countless times even if some were not necessarily A+ performances.

Mclean has in the past proved to be a very good roaming ruckman, taking circuit breaker marks, plugging a structural hole competently, scoreboard impact. Ladhams on the other hand is just volatile and never really quite managed any of the above to date.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Easy, it's Mclean. Grundy would still be taking up majority of the ruck time, so imo the difference between Mclean and Ladhams ruck craft would be obsolete, and they would be expected to spend some time up forward.

I feel Ladhams on the field is just list clogger territory. He's not exceptional at anything. He's an ok tap ruckman, an ok mark, skills are questionable, consistency and impact negligable. He's that type of player who i just don't think gives you much out there in terms of overall impact. If Grundy got injured and all we needed was someone to come in and attempt to compete and somewhat break even, then sure. But playing him in a rotation within our current squad imo just weakens us. At least Mclean is very much capable of having clear and obvious impact on the final result,he's done it countless times even if some were not necessarily A+ performances.

Mclean has in the past proved to be a very good roaming ruckman, taking circuit breaker marks, plugging a structural hole competently, scoreboard impact. Ladhams on the other hand is just volatile and never really quite managed any of the above to date.

I think it’s 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the other.

Both can come in and be OK-ish to plug a hole, but that’s about it.

If we were offered say pick 35 for either …. I reckon it’d be robustly discussed within the club. A bit depends on where Armatey is headed.

 

[zyzzbruh]

I think it’s 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the other.

Both can come in and be OK-ish to plug a hole, but that’s about it.

If we were offered say pick 35 for either …. I reckon it’d be robustly discussed within the club. A bit depends on where Armatey is headed.

If you were to flip a coin for your life for one to impact more in a particular game, whilst the coin is in the air you'd be hoping it lands on Mclean. I rekn deep down we all know that, and i don't think it's close tbh. I can see why the casual thought of it seems close between the two, but really, it's not even a contest. Mclean hands down.

 

[Callipygian]

I'm in the Ladhams ahead of McLean as a ruck (e.g. if Grundy unavailable) and McLean first as a forward with back-up ruck duties camp. Ladhams is no worldbeater but not only is he serviceable as a tap ruckman, he is also quite good in general play when he's playing in the ruck role. He's not much good ahead of or behind the ball. He's a perfect player to have on our list - shines at reserves level and able to come in and be servicable at senior level. When you talk about "playing for your life" I think you're referring to McLean's better character in the sense of more dependable effort and discipline.

I would like to keep McLean on our list as very valuable depth too but I think this decision will be up to McLean. I don't think it's so much that we will get an offer that is too good to refuse (or even worth considering), I think it will be if McLean gets an off that he wants to accept elsewhere. If that happens we'll just have to make the most of it and I think that scenario is well on the cards. The value we get in return will probably depend a fair bit on what kind of a deal leaves for. If he were to leave for 2 years on modest money it would be like the Buller trade. If he is offered 4 years on solid money then we can ask for a 2nd rounder.

 

[strauchanie59]

A team like Carlton could actually use him right now, but for us, I wouldn't play him unless two of our tall forwards are out. He's servicable in the air, but when the ball hits the ground he's just a liability. I have no doubt he'll play a game or two in 2026, but I'd be looking to shift him off our list heading into 2027.

He has moments where he lays a fantastic tackle inside 50, but when he's not marking the ball or hitting the scoreboard, there's not much else to his game.

You just have to look at 2024 when (for the most part) we were a free-flowing attacking team. He was our second tall forward, played every game (26) and only kicked 27 goals.

He's one of the players in the AFL that would benefit most out of a mid-season trade period.

 

[Ballarat Bob]

Tbh McLean has had a good crack at AFL level and has been an honest trier without setting the world on fire. Normally get three games a year where he really excels then is very inconsistent for the rest. His rucking was very decent a couple of years ago but I thought he dropped off last year a bit. Gets caught trying to take marks from behind and has very limited mobility.
Ladhams i still think is a superior ruck to McLean and is better when the ball hits the ground after a ruck contest. Can take marks in the forward fifty , goal kicking is shambolic.
If Amartey or Curnow go down McLean I would favour but Grundy I would replace with Ladhams.
I think both players have hit their ceiling they are what they are.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I watched the Ressies yesterday. McLean looked like he had the flu. He's a very fit bloke but from time to time he was gasping. His hands were like blocks of wood. He was getting to balls but unable to hold on. He was crashing packs and struggling to get up. He earnt everything he got and kicked 4 goals in a game that was up for grabs. Yes, he has the shortcomings observed but he's still a decent and hardworking key forward who gives what he has. If one of the current 3 KPFs goes down he comes in and does a reasonable job. All you can ask.
How about a bit of respect?

 

[Wheresbuddy]

I watched the Ressies yesterday. McLean looked like he had the flu. He's a very fit bloke but from time to time he was gasping. His hands were like blocks of wood. He was getting to balls but unable to hold on. He was crashing packs and struggling to get up. He earnt everything he got and kicked 4 goals in a game that was up for grabs. Yes, he has the shortcomings observed but he's still a decent and hardworking key forward who gives what he has. If one of the current 3 KPFs goes down he comes in and does a reasonable job. All you can ask.
How about a bit of respect?

I agree. Was very impressed by how he bounced back after a poor 1st quarter yesterday. I feel totally comfortable having him come in if required and he would be the preferred option to replace one of our tall forwards in the event of injury / loss of form / resting.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I agree. Was very impressed by how he bounced back after a poor 1st quarter yesterday. I feel totally comfortable having him come in if required and he would be the preferred option to replace one of our tall forwards in the event of injury / loss of form / resting.

All lovely sentiments & I thought he was very good in the ressies yesterday.

But - he’s a very limited player & if we can improve our list via a trade, so be it.

 

[Wheresbuddy]

All lovely sentiments & I thought he was very good in the ressies yesterday.

But - he’s a very limited player & if we can improve our list via a trade, so be it.

I agree with this and I think if Hayden wants to be a regular starter, he would concur himself.

Re being very limited, I feel that's a bit harsh but each to their own.

 

[Callipygian]

All lovely sentiments & I thought he was very good in the ressies yesterday.

But - he’s a very limited player & if we can improve our list via a trade, so be it.

I don't think we can improve our list via trade when it comes to McLean. Any trade we return we receive for him would likely be less than he is worth to us. He's definitely worth a list spot. Invaluable depth. But probably worth more to another team.

Currently Dos is clearly our 4th best tall forward. However, even if one of the first 3 went down, I think there would be a debate to be had whether we have a like for like replacement (i.e. McLean) or if instead we go smaller and bring a different type of player (e.g. Corey or Dattoli or Cootee - or, when they're available Campbell or Bowman), possibly by shifting another player already in the 23 forward.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

No thanks. Not needed unless Bulldogs like injuries hit.

 

[Punts]

Be replacing McDonald with him , deserves a chance IF form warrants and McDonald form continues.

Melican was dropped