Past Will Hayward

[Kennedy Parker]

Will Hayward
Spritely Sydney Swans forward Will Hayward

19

Will Hayward

Age

27

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

19

Will Hayward

Age

27

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

 

[connolly]

I've seen him a few times (albeit I wasn't watching for him in particular). IMO I think he'll be a really great player on the proviso he builds some size and get's his endurance up. Probably the biggest criticism of him as far as I have heard/seen is his tank & "size" (maybe not athletic enough or big enough - A bit in between). I believe he played in the middle early on then got shifted to the FWD line due to his tank and size.

IMO his strengths are his agility and footy smarts. While not the perfect athletic specimen like some others - I think he is a solid, smart football player. Exactly what we should be looking at drafting. You can build speed, endurance, strength... You can mould some footy knowledge. But natural skill and understanding is what we should be trying to draft. As such, I think if he can increase his size and endurance a bit then, based on the natural skill and smarts I believe he has, I think we got him at a bargain basement price.

Really looking forward to seeing him and seeing how he goes at this next level of competition.

I know this is a big call and I am not comparing but he reminds me of a very young James Hird based on the highlights reel. Similar size and plays a similar style. Hope he makes it.

 

[6yearsold]

I've seen him a few times (albeit I wasn't watching for him in particular). IMO I think he'll be a really great player on the proviso he builds some size and get's his endurance up. Probably the biggest criticism of him as far as I have heard/seen is his tank & "size" (maybe not athletic enough or big enough - A bit in between). I believe he played in the middle early on then got shifted to the FWD line due to his tank and size.

IMO his strengths are his agility and footy smarts. While not the perfect athletic specimen like some others - I think he is a solid, smart football player. Exactly what we should be looking at drafting. You can build speed, endurance, strength... You can mould some footy knowledge. But natural skill and understanding is what we should be trying to draft. As such, I think if he can increase his size and endurance a bit then, based on the natural skill and smarts I believe he has, I think we got him at a bargain basement price.

Really looking forward to seeing him and seeing how he goes at this next level of competition.

nice post. the only thing i would disagree with is the comments about his size/strength. from what i have seen for a first year player he has an excellent physique. the swans actually asked him to improve his running before being drafted last year and apparently he responded well.

 

[Strangways]

As a young babe in the 1950's growing up, we went to all the Swans games (for home games standing on the bowling green side). Back then, the thirds played the curtain raiser before the firsts. My Mum would boast that we saw all Bobby Skilton's games as he essentially went from the thirds (I think) directly into the seniors.
I'm unable to get to games, so I loved it when NEAFL showed some of our games on youtube last year. Reliving part of my childhood and watching how Shaw is teaching our players playing the Swans game plan.
It's exciting to see all the young players coming through - especially with the likes and success of Heeney, Mills and Allir ....

My father was a trainer from the late 50's to the early 70's my brother and I would sit on the trainers bench on the bowling green side with him during the games, I was 3 weeks old when I went to my first game it was the last game of the season in 1959.
We would go to the ground every Sunday for the pleasant Sunday mornings, met a lot of players also TV actors that would come down for a massage from Bill Mitchell (the guru), my father and a couple of others.
I remember the cocky, the water fountain the social club under the members stand, one of the first elevated coaches box on that wing the concrete tunnels behind the goals that made it real tricky shooting for goal on a windy day. Also when they stopped playing bowls there, that was going to be bulldozed and made into a grandstand like at Moorabbin that stretched most of the way around that side of the ground, the builders hurdles were all pegged out but the VFL at the time said no we won't be lending you any money you will be going to Sydney and for a long time after 82 they were still pegged in the ground. Great memories I took a few souvenirs from the ground when they stopped playing there.

 

[6yearsold]

very quiet on the hayward bandwagon. underwhelming performance but i guess we've grown used to our new recruits coming in straight away and carving it up (heeney and mills). hayward and florent might need to take the jones and mitchell route of spending significant time in the neafl but both could still become good players.

 

[scaryness]

very quiet on the hayward bandwagon. underwhelming performance but i guess we've grown used to our new recruits coming in straight away and carving it up (heeney and mills). hayward and florent might need to take the jones and mitchell route of spending significant time in the neafl but both could still become good players.

Of our 5 or 6 forwards, Buddy was the only one who got near it in those conditions. Will wait and see in better conditions.

 

[Tedeski]

very quiet on the hayward bandwagon. underwhelming performance but i guess we've grown used to our new recruits coming in straight away and carving it up (heeney and mills). hayward and florent might need to take the jones and mitchell route of spending significant time in the neafl but both could still become good players.

Florent is a very clean player with the ball.
I wouldn't be surprised if he came in to play the Jetta role.

 

[elastic]

I'd like to publicly thank the Swans BF board, as I had a great time reading the posts re our potential draft picks. I was sitting on the edge of my seat watching on the night of drafts on the AFL web site and reading all your comments.
Another reason why I'm so excited by our new recruits wearing the red and white

This year was the first time I really took a close interest in the draft and what players were likely to make it to the swans. Certainly added bit of interest, being able to get the lowdown on BF, and certainly helped the off season move that little bit faster.

 

[Tedeski]

This year was the first time I really took a close interest in the draft and what players were likely to make it to the swans. Certainly added bit of interest, being able to get the lowdown on BF, and certainly helped the off season move that little bit faster.

Swans BF is terrific for finding out how good one of our players will become even before they have had a chance to learn the ropes!

 

[Punts]

Florent is a very clean player with the ball.
I wouldn't be surprised if he came in to play the Jetta role.

His ball use is still suspect imo

 

[Tedeski]

His ball use is still suspect imo

Yeah like I said. The Jetta role.
He kicked 19 behinds before his first goal remember!

 

[connolly]

My father was a trainer from the late 50's to the early 70's my brother and I would sit on the trainers bench on the bowling green side with him during the games, I was 3 weeks old when I went to my first game it was the last game of the season in 1959.
We would go to the ground every Sunday for the pleasant Sunday mornings, met a lot of players also TV actors that would come down for a massage from Bill Mitchell (the guru), my father and a couple of others.
I remember the cocky, the water fountain the social club under the members stand, one of the first elevated coaches box on that wing the concrete tunnels behind the goals that made it real tricky shooting for goal on a windy day. Also when they stopped playing bowls there, that was going to be bulldozed and made into a grandstand like at Moorabbin that stretched most of the way around that side of the ground, the builders hurdles were all pegged out but the VFL at the time said no we won't be lending you any money you will be going to Sydney and for a long time after 82 they were still pegged in the ground. Great memories I took a few souvenirs from the ground when they stopped playing there.

Given that cockatoos can live to 100 years that abusive cockatoo may be alive. Anyone know what happened to the famous Bloods cockatoo?

 

[Punts]

His ball use is still suspect imo

A lot different players

He doesn't have the evasion skills of Jetta in traffic , regardless of Jettas 19 points his field kicking was still awesome

Not saying that he can't do it but not in the same league ATM

 

[elastic]

A lot different players

He doesn't have the evasion skills of Jetta in traffic , regardless of Jettas 19 points his field kicking was still awesome

Not saying that he can't do it but not in the same league ATM

If he can find the ball consistently in traffic he could become a bigger asset. It was great when Jetta could find his own ball but it didn't happen frequently enough although that wasn't his primary role. Since we traded him we have been looking for that outside run and carry and to break it free from congestion. Sorry I forgot this is the Will Hayward thread not the Ollie Florent thread.

 

[The King!]

Time will tell, cant expect these kids just dominate in the first couple of JLT games and show us what they bring

 

[swannyfan]

Always going to be tough to come in under those conditions against the premiership favourites, particularly as a young forward who's had his preseason hampered by a foot injury. Our midfield was never going to dominate a team such as the giants (unlike a weaker side) to give enough clean supply. Brent harvey had 1 disposal and johnathan brown had zero possessions in their debut games. I look forward to seeing what he can do in the dry and tearing it up in the neafl.

 

[Jeffers]

His ball use is still suspect imo

Gotta see how he goes in proper dry conditions. Although Sydney Swans games and rain go hand in hand.

 

[Ralphyboy]

I enjoy this forum! You guys are so fickle! Last week poor Will Hayward was going to be James Hird, now Will and Florent are suspect!

For Will Hayward the game was quite a shock, big bodies hitting hard. I watched him closely, his first couple of efforts were reflective of his under 18 game style. Good body position and neatly out positioned his opponent. After that however his survival instincts took over and he was looking like he was trying but mentally he was "get me out of here!".

He will need time to adjust to senior footy both physically and mentally. He looked very slight out there. I think he will need a year in Neafl and will develop into a good footy player.

He is very quick and athletic as his combine results showed, but will need to work hard during this year to develop, particularly mentally. Fortunately the swans are well credentialed in this regard and have excellent support for 1-3 year players.

I am pretty sure, like all young players Will learnt lots from his first senior game.

 

[Ralphyboy]

Oh, and on Florent, he will be nothing like Jetta. His work rate is far higher.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

I enjoy this forum! You guys are so fickle! Last week poor Will Hayward was going to be James Hird, now Will and Florent are suspect!

For Will Hayward the game was quite a shock, big bodies hitting hard. I watched him closely, his first couple of efforts were reflective of his under 18 game style. Good body position and neatly out positioned his opponent. After that however his survival instincts took over and he was looking like he was trying but mentally he was "get me out of here!".

He will need time to adjust to senior footy both physically and mentally. He looked very slight out there. I think he will need a year in Neafl and will develop into a good footy player.

He is very quick and athletic as his combine results showed, but will need to work hard during this year to develop, particularly mentally. Fortunately the swans are well credentialed in this regard and have excellent support for 1-3 year players.

I am pretty sure, like all young players Will learnt lots from his first senior game.

I agree mate. Saw him a few times previously and know he's got a good, footy smart, head on his shoulders. We just need to slowly integrate him to the speed required and build that body of his up. Nothing wrong with his positioning, leading or bodywork but his endurance, physique and getting used to the faster speed of the game are all needed before we start making judgement.

Looking forward to seeing how he goes this year and next. Hopefully in 24 months we're talking about his spot in the seniors.

 

[momentbymoment]

I agree mate. Saw him a few times previously and know he's got a good, footy smart, head on his shoulders. We just need to slowly integrate him to the speed required and build that body of his up. Nothing wrong with his positioning, leading or bodywork but his endurance, physique and getting used to the faster speed of the game are all needed before we start making judgement.

Looking forward to seeing how he goes this year and next. Hopefully in 24 months we're talking about his spot in the seniors.

I'm curious as to why Mills and Heeney were able to walk straight into the seniors but not guys like Hayward and Florent?

 

[replicant]

I'm curious as to why Mills and Heeney were able to walk straight into the seniors but not guys like Hayward and Florent?

Mills and Heeney came through the academy system, so already played like Swans when we drafted them. Hayward and Florent needed to learn our players and systems, so wouldn't have acclimatised so quickly.

 

[elastic]

I'm curious as to why Mills and Heeney were able to walk straight into the seniors but not guys like Hayward and Florent?

I think the fact they had been at the academy for a few years and had some background with the swans gameplan probably helped. Mills played some NEAFL for us the year before he was drafted. Not sure about Heeney but being in the environment would have certainly fast tracked their progress.

 

[momentbymoment]

Mills and Heeney came through the academy system, so already played like Swans when we drafted them. Hayward and Florent needed to learn our players and systems, so wouldn't have acclimatised so quickly.

Makes sense.

 

[LukeHodge15]

Mills and Heeney came through the academy system, so already played like Swans when we drafted them. Hayward and Florent needed to learn our players and systems, so wouldn't have acclimatised so quickly.

Mills and Heeney ELITE talents taken top 2 in the draft vs Florent and Hayward who were 11 and 19ish.

Huge difference in transitional time frames

 

[swannyfan]

Will hoskin elliott wasn't a bad player when he first came onto the giants list, in fact prob one of their more dangerous players at his peak...took some big hangers (same height, same physique..few kgs higher but looks very slight from TV) and similar athletic attributes..also plays in similar position.