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Past Will Hayward

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

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Will Hayward | AFL

Follow Will Hayward's progress through AFL
www.sydneyswans.com.au www.sydneyswans.com.au
 
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I think I'd be less irritated by Hayward if it wasn't for this constant talk about his "talent".

I've never seen a player whose talent is talked about so much but shown so little.

I can't think of many players in the team who he's shown more ability than. Maybe Clarke, maybe Wicks, maybe McLean.
 
bedford said:
What role an auskick kid could've kicked one of them , even you probably could've got it
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Yeah fair can't defend the goal kicking, just saying he did the lead up work, rightly or wrongly won't be dropped is my guess
 
caesar88 said:
I think I'd be less irritated by Hayward if it wasn't for this constant talk about his "talent".

I've never seen a player whose talent is talked about so much but shown so little.

I can't think of many players in the team who he's shown more ability than. Maybe Clarke, maybe Wicks, maybe McLean.
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To me he is just a role player at best, not a special talent
 
The King! said:
To me he is just a role player at best, not a special talent
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Yeah I was a lot calmer watching him last night appreciating that he's just a very limited player who tries hard, rather than waiting for this talent everyone talks about that makes an appearance maybe once or twice a game.
 
caesar88 said:
Yeah I was a lot calmer watching him last night appreciating that he's just a very limited player who tries hard, rather than waiting for this talent everyone talks about that makes an appearance maybe once or twice a game.
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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
 
bedford said:
So what is Waywards position , doesn't mean Stephens plays in the same position , it can change around anyway , McLeans not a ruckmans a-hole but played there
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what if you have forward A

13 possies a game
3 marks a game
1 tackle a game
-5 free kick differential
30 goals from 50 scoring shots or 60%
6 score involvements a games
tackles in forward 50 a week 0


and forward B

12 possies a game
5 marks a game
3 tackles a game
+6 free kick differential
15 goals from 30 scoring shots or 50%
5 score involvements a game
tackles in forward 50 a week 1


could you actually see much difference? be crazy to insist one was a star and the other be dropped hey ;) One gets more shots as targeted more I guess


10 of player As goals are in 2 decent games he played
 

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Cadsky said:
Not even remotely the same position
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You could try him there though. Stephens has been playing as a mid in the VFL so has the tackling game covered. He's fitter so can cover more ground for uncontested marks. I'd back Dyl in on set shots these days.

The thing I hear about is Hayward's contested marking up the line. Given he averages less than 1 contested mark per game, with 2 in his 5 games since the bye, what are we actually losing?
 
He won't be dropped, or even in the discussion for getting dropped.

Would love it if he and Heeney would spend the whole off season working on set shots though. Both of them are such good marks for their height but horse should sit them down and show them their kicking this year. Being a good mark is only as valuable as your set shot is reliable.
 
I'll be watching him very, very closely next game about this supposed 'role' he plays. Aka. tackling, pressure, strong mark, switching sides of the ground quickly.

When people throw around the 'he plays his role' it just sounds like an excuse.

And when we complain about him missing easy goals which deflates the team and people call for him to be dropped, people just trot out the old, 'there's noone better' line.

'He plays his role'
'Nobody better to replace him.'

Answer to everything.

Just give Stephens or Clarke that role. We've won without Hayward before and I'm absolutely certain his absence won't even be noticed.
 
Makes me wonder whatever happened to the Will Hayward who could kick straight...
 
It couldn't be more clear that he's completely in his head about goal kicking now. Missing one 15m out straight in front is bad but the 2nd shot in the final quarter I think is actually worse. It seemed clear to just about anyone that he was too far out for a legitimate snap set shot, meaning he had feeling so uncertain about his ability to kick straight set shots that he went for an almost impossible option. Something needs to be done to help him intervene on the situation, although the rest of his game was pretty good and he played well against Richmond too.
 
S120 said:
It couldn't be more clear that he's completely in his head about goal kicking now. Missing one 15m out straight in front is bad but the 2nd shot in the final quarter I think is actually worse. It seemed clear to just about anyone that he was too far out for a legitimate snap set shot, meaning he had feeling so uncertain about his ability to kick straight set shots that he went for an almost impossible option. Something needs to be done to help him intervene on the situation, although the rest of his game was pretty good and he played well against Richmond too.
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Players shouldn't be kicking snap shots from 45 degree angle shots anyway. This is what AFL has become. Junk.

Might as well bring back the place kick. Its a blight on the skills of the sport.
 

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I think we have to accept he is a bust as a forward. As an average team we cannot carry a forward who is a one in three set shot for goal.

He does have some upsides-
  • He is a decent one v one mark. Happily he has stopped flying in packs and spoiling our key forwards.
  • Has a decent tank and speed.
  • He is an adequate field kick.
  • Possesses decent defensive skills.

While I would put him on the trade block and hope to get a late second, it sure ain’t my decision.

He is obviously a Horse favourite but surely even Horse must question Hayward’s long term viability as a forward.

Could Will be reinvented as a permanent backman? Harry Cunningham has been enjoying a good career Autumn as a reliable small defender, but he has maybe another season left in him. Will could be a decent replacement as a close checking defender. He has the height and ability in the air and speed/agility to match the best small/medium forwards like Charley Cameron.
 
bedford said:
Big bodied midfielder , can just hack it out would suit him . Someone has to replace Parks hacking
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Would need to build a tank as you say, as this team currently can not afford another mid who does nor work hard both ways. Mills and Rowbottom do, Parker tries but gets caught out at times for pace and Warner does not do it like he should.
 
Easy to forget Hayward is only 24. Both he and Florent are still pretty young in AFL terms.

He isn't having a good year, but he is worth persisting with. Being able to impact through the midfield would take some pressure off.

Maybe the second half of his career, he can become a Shane Edwards style high impact player.
 

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Past Will Hayward

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