Player Watch #9 Will Hayward

[Kennedy Parker]

Will Hayward
Spritely Sydney Swans forward Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

enjoyed a rocketing start to his career as he became the 11th-youngest player in the AFL era to reach 50 career goals in 2018. The 2016 draftee’s nippy pace and cunning goal awareness have made him a dangerous option in coach John Longmire’s forward line. A broken jaw and a persistent hip injury limited Hayward to just 12 goals in 13 senior games in 2019, but the South Australian is attacking the 2020 campaign on the back of his first full pre-season. Don’t be surprised if the exciting Swan finds himself on a wing this year.

Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

DOB: 26 October 1998
DEBUT: 2017
DRAFT: #21, 2016 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: Walkerville (SA)/North Adelaide (SANFL)

Will Hayward | AFL

Follow Will Hayward's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Citrus22]

Had his best year last year and is certainly down on confidence with his kicking. Is definitely working a lot harder around the ground the last month or so, if he keeps that consistency of effort up the results will come.

Agree with the idea that he's not actually that talented a player. He's more a bloke who is at his best working hard up and down the ground, providing an outlet kick to take some pressure off the backline, take a contested mark here and there, while also giving a bit of pressure at ground level. When he does that role well (as he did on Thursday - minus the goal kicking), he adds quite a bit of value to the team.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

It was evident he didn’t know whether to go a drop punt or round-the-corner from 40.

That’s actually really poor.

Surely it’s what training and coaching are for - to get such things sorted out BEFORE the game?

 

[S120]

Think it's very unlikely a shift into the middle would do much of anything. He's never played there properly as far as I'm aware in juniors and certainly not in seniors. Not a long line of players who go from that history to then going into the midfield with any effect. I'd be either keeping him forward and just working him hard on finding his rhythm again or play him in defence if you feel his time as a forward is over. He's shown some ability as a defender in brief stints there so I think that's definitely a possible move to make but I suspect it's more likely he'll stay forward because he does stuff the coaches rates defensively and can take a mark. I also think his goal kicking will come good eventually; he's a first round pick with natural ability as a forward, that talent doesn't just leave at 24 yo. Very much between the ears imo and that can be sorted.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I now think the yips are his usual State, with the odd game or half season where he temporarily can kick set shots.

 

[BloodySwan]

He had 0.2 and 1 complete miss. Kick straight he could have had 3 goals (and they weren't hard shots either). He's doing a lot right to get into the right position, but his kicking has gone way down hill.

I think developing his tank is important. Not to play him as a midfielder full time but so he can get some midfield minutes when his form is down and regain confidence.

 

[bedford]

Think it's very unlikely a shift into the middle would do much of anything. He's never played there properly as far as I'm aware in juniors and certainly not in seniors. Not a long line of players who go from that history to then going into the midfield with any effect. I'd be either keeping him forward and just working him hard on finding his rhythm again or play him in defence if you feel his time as a forward is over. He's shown some ability as a defender in brief stints there so I think that's definitely a possible move to make but I suspect it's more likely he'll stay forward because he does stuff the coaches rates defensively and can take a mark. I also think his goal kicking will come good eventually; he's a first round pick with natural ability as a forward, that talent doesn't just leave at 24 yo. Very much between the ears imo and that can be sorted.

Why not try it , won't hurt and his set shots have always been dodgy , just got worse

 

[J_Moore]

Delist

 

[J_Moore]

Wait, hang on.

 

[The King!]

Role player did he role, as he mostly does

good game

 

[Olian]

Went back and kicked truly. Easy to forget that he was the quickest to kick his first 50 goals since Buddy.

 

[Dangas]

Tonight. This is his potential, kicking them flush from 45-50, clunking marks in the contest on the wing and working back defensively to support the side. Great game from him, just need it to be consistent.

 

[Dangas]

Delist

Your post inspired his performance tonight?

 

[BloodySwan]

Played a great game tonight. Strong marks, kicking straight, crumbed. Best performance in a while

 

[MF]

Tonight. This is his potential, kicking them flush from 45-50, clunking marks in the contest on the wing and working back defensively to support the side. Great game from him, just need it to be consistent.

I feel like he is pretty consistent with most of his game. Has just let himself with his goalkicking this year. Tonight wasn't much different than most of his games except he took his chances. He always cracks in defensively and is a solid marking target on the wing.

Let's hope tonight put his confidence issues in front of goal to bed.

 

[Dangas]

I feel like he is pretty consistent with most of his game. Has just let himself with his goalkicking this year. Tonight wasn't much different than most of his games except he took his chances. He always cracks in defensively and is a solid marking target on the wing.

Let's hope tonight put his confidence issues in front of goal to bed.

Fair post, I guess we only remember his missed opportunities when having a shot on goal which does undo his good work up the ground in the air and at ground level around the F50.

 

[bedford]

Played a great game tonight. Strong marks, kicking straight, crumbed. Best performance in a while

That's not great , that's a good game when he had 2 and stopped Luke Ryan, good team role

 

[bedford]

Fair post, I guess we only remember his missed opportunities when having a shot on goal which does undo his good work up the ground in the air and at ground level around the F50.

At goal

 

[bloodsbigot]

Yet another miss at a critical moment in the final quarter that almost cost us the game. In a game that we generally couldn't miss as well.

He kicks to left.
He kicks to the riiiiight.
That Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

.
His kicking is shite.

 

[BloodySwan]

Yet another miss at a critical moment in the final quarter that almost cost us the game. In a game that we generally couldn't miss as well.

He kicks to left.
He kicks to the riiiiight.
That Will Hayward.
His kicking is shite.

 

[The King!]

View attachment 1767346

For goal ? Field kicking no way Florent is at that end

 

[bedford]

You wouldn't want him having a shot AT goal after the siren

 

[Callipygian]

Think it's very unlikely a shift into the middle would do much of anything. He's never played there properly as far as I'm aware in juniors and certainly not in seniors. Not a long line of players who go from that history to then going into the midfield with any effect. I'd be either keeping him forward and just working him hard on finding his rhythm again or play him in defence if you feel his time as a forward is over. He's shown some ability as a defender in brief stints there so I think that's definitely a possible move to make but I suspect it's more likely he'll stay forward because he does stuff the coaches rates defensively and can take a mark. I also think his goal kicking will come good eventually; he's a first round pick with natural ability as a forward, that talent doesn't just leave at 24 yo. Very much between the ears imo and that can be sorted.

Maybe switch positions with Florent? Otherwise how do you fit him in down back? But I don't think he can rebound it out of D50 like Olly - either by kicking or by running.

 

[BloodySwan]

You wouldn't want him having a shot AT goal after the siren

I'd be nervous if scores were level and we only need him to kick a behind

 

[The King!]

Same i just figure he will get 9-13 touches take some nice marks, lay tackles and compete and if he kicks straight 1-3 goals a week.

If you expect him to win games for Sydney and be in the bests then you are going to be upset

even better

 

[grimlock]