Player Watch Will Hayes

[satty]

Started well and was in it when the game was still hot, fell away late.

Will only get better.

 

[HFF]

He stays in the team
His leg speed and creativity is needed inside 50 and forward of centre
He will get better with more games

 

[rand corp]

Keeps chipping away, bobs up for good goals and getting valuable experience.

 

[WanderingDude]

With a young player it ain’t about complete games. It is okay to build on moments. Hayes pace, skills and his footy IQ are clear. For a young player to control moments on such a big stage is so good. I like him playing a block of games.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

100% stays in until Hill returns. The only player we have that can crumb a goal. Done it twice in two weeks.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Really liked his first quarter when the heat was on

Also with a 5 day break would you rest him ?

Young like old players fatigue

 

[Eric Shin]

I hope he stays in for as long as possible.

Getting more confident each game. Yes he fades in and out of games, but most small forwards do.

If anyone would understand, it would be Fly, who was a small forward himself.

 

[sherrife]

Really clean, balanced, also fairly tough in his pressure acts. Really liked this kid from day one.

Could be rotated with HH this week. But he's building nicely, so could easily be Elliot or Schultz that are rested instead. But will need breaks through the season you would think.

 

[satty]

100% stays in until Hill returns. The only player we have that can crumb a goal. Done it twice in two weeks.

Would still be stiff to be dropped when hill comes back.

I think Elliot will need a spell at some stage. He has seriously dropped off.

 

[Rorzza]

Just needs to find a little more footy at this point if Willy is to remain in the team...I'm just loving his development, the left foot bullet pass in the first quarter that hit the player on the wing/halfback flank, brilliant!

 

[whiskeytown]

Back to the vfl for mine. Has had a taste… had some good passages… and now needs to work on some things so he can impact a game for longer

Would be really great for pies if both Hayes and Saxena come on. Need the quick and silky types to compliment Schulz’s doggedness

 

[Kappa]

In 6 quarters he's had about a combined 4 disposals over the past fortnight

Shows promising signs but we can't carry a kid who only plays 1 quarter each week

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I think Elliot will need a spell at some stage. He has seriously dropped off.

He's kicked 5 goals in the last couple of weeks. He had a slow start but he's clearly picking up again.

 

[Kappa]

He's kicked 5 goals in the last couple of weeks. He had a slow start but he's clearly picking up again.

He’s kicked goals when we get a turnover and he can find space. He’s really struggled 1 on 1 this year, really need him to click.

 

[TradeDraft]

Having some Impact in his AFL Games This Year

Love the Crumbing Goal and Speed and Skill he Shows

Still needs to get Bigger and Stronger but showing really Promising Signs at AFL Level in 2026

 

[Ugene41]

I had questions around whether he has the x factor to be a dangerous small forward but he's now starting to come up clutch time and time again with big goals and moments. Another youngster thats showing promising signs this year!

 

[lenny20]

Between Hayes, Shoota, Elliott, McCreery, the imminent return of Harrison, and the hopeful return of Hill, our small forward stocks are looking as good as any time I can remember.

Hayes has balance, speed, very tidy footskills, and a knack for goals. He's also a natural crumber, which is a point of difference to everyone else on that list bar Hill. He'll make it for sure, the only question is how good he'll get.

 

[greening22]

Between Hayes, Shoota, Elliott, McCreery, the imminent return of Harrison, and the hopeful return of Hill, our small forward stocks are looking as good as any time I can remember.

Hayes has balance, speed, very tidy footskills, and a knack for goals. He's also a natural crumber, which is a point of difference to everyone else on that list bar Hill. He'll make it for sure, the only question is how good he'll get.

He reminds me of a very young Ronnie Wesrmouth if some folks on here remember Ronnie from the late 60's & well into the late 1970's & then into the very early 1980's. OK. He definitely needs to be played. Goodnight & good luck.

 

[domus]

He reminds me of a very young Ronnie Wesrmouth if some folks on here remember Ronnie from the late 60's & well into the late 1970's & then into the very early 1980's. OK. He definitely needs to be played. Goodnight & good luck.

I said to my son at the game tonight that Hayes is a very seventies like player. He fits in alongside Ricky Barham, Wearmouth and others from that Collingwood era.

 

[whiskeytown]

Hayes is making his moments count… but otherwise 6 touches, 2 marks, 0 tackles inside 50 is not great output 69% game time

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

Ahhh! The reminiscing about Wearmouth, Barham, et a,l is bringing a tear to an old man's eye.

 

[Ugene41]

Hayes is making his moments count… but otherwise 6 touches, 2 marks, 0 tackles inside 50 is not great output 69% game time

How do you expect any tackles inside 50 when we didn't play our usual ineffective locking the ball inside 50 game. When we had such high scoring efficiency the only stat that really matters for forwards is goals and he delivered 2 great ones.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Hayes is making his moments count… but otherwise 6 touches, 2 marks, 0 tackles inside 50 is not great output 69% game time

Elliott only had 8 touches, Sidebottom 9.

Our forwards hardly saw it but when they did they converted. I’m taking Hayes’ 2 goals in a game like that.

 

[jathanas]

Hayes is making his moments count… but otherwise 6 touches, 2 marks, 0 tackles inside 50 is not great output 69% game time

Made the most out of limited opportunities, and his stats reflect Collingwood's general theme last night.

His impact was noteworthy - the kid has a future.

 

[domus]

He reminds me of a very young Ronnie Wesrmouth if some folks on here remember Ronnie from the late 60's & well into the late 1970's & then into the very early 1980's. OK. He definitely needs to be played. Goodnight & good luck.

I said to my son at the game tonight that Hayes was a very seventies like player. He fits in alongside Ricky Barham, Wearmouth and others from that Collingwood era

Hayes is making his moments count… but otherwise 6 touches, 2 marks, 0 tackles inside 50 is not great output 69% game time

This is why statistics can be very misleading and overused when judging a player's impact.

He is growing from week to week and showing more than enough to remain in the team.

Playing as a small forward is never about gathering heaps of possessions. It's hitting the scoreboard when opportunities present and applying defensive pressure.