Player Watch #9 Will Hayward

[Kennedy Parker]

Will Hayward
Spritely Sydney Swans forward Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

26

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

26

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

 

[MF]

He really makes the most of every opportunity he gets in a game which is crucial as a medium forward because you don't get many.

He fights for the ball like his life depends on it every time he's near it and has a knack for kicking momentum turning goals.

I was always a fan but he's really won me over this year.

 

[The King!]

He really makes the most of every opportunity he gets in a game which is crucial as a medium forward because you don't get many.

He fights for the ball like his life depends on it every time he's near it and has a knack for kicking momentum turning goals.

I was always a fan but he's really won me over this year.

Has really grown as an on field leader , sounds wanky but seems like a man out there not one of the youngins

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I've always been a Hayward fan and agree with comments about him becoming a leader this year. He has shown a level of maturity this year that signals he has become part of the more seasoned group of players who are helping to lead the team.

He has shown on multiple occasions that he can stand up and kick important goals when the team isn't up and about, and we really need a goal.

I'm so glad he re-signed, because while his role is replaceable, very few (if any) would be capable of replacing him. Any option we looked at would have had deficiencies that would have had to be covered by others in the team.

 

[hairy biker]

Just had a look at his stats tonight and while they are fine they are nothing extraordinary.

But it's the intangibles that he brings that are so important to the team.
He'll get a hand in to spoil a mark, apply pressure like a madman, cover an amazing amount of ground for a guy who is notionally a HFF and constantly provide a contest. And of course 40 goals for the season is a very fine effort, particularly with a knee that is likely heading for a post season clean up.

HFF is so often the 'dead zone' but Will is our indefatigable zombie.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Hayward had his strapping removed in the second half - that’s a great sign.

 

[bedford]

Had a few mates but not 1 possie in the 2nd half , absolute mistake to sign him for so long

 

[The King!]

When the going gets tough he has nothing else he can give us it seems.

Like can't go back or run on the ball, so becomes a non factor

 

[Kiama Chris]

Had a few mates but not 1 possie in the 2nd half , absolute mistake to sign him for so long

And yet after signing he was our best goal kicker until now. He relies on feed from the mids or ground ball from the talls and both were rubbish.

 

[bedford]

And yet after signing he was our best goal kicker until now. He relies on feed from the mids or ground ball from the talls and both were rubbish.

0 0 is no good

 

[ashep]

Can't kick it to himself and works as hard as anyone in the team so it's clearly a case of being asked to stay home in the forward line instead of suck back down the ground like Logan or McLean.

Is comfortably in the top half of medium forwards in the comp. Will always look spare if the rest of the team isn't functioning but suggesting we shouldn't have signed him long term is madness to me.

 

[bedford]

Can't kick it to himself and works as hard as anyone in the team so it's clearly a case of being asked to stay home in the forward line instead of suck back down the ground like Logan or McLean.

Is comfortably in the top half of medium forwards in the comp. Will always look spare if the rest of the team isn't functioning but suggesting we shouldn't have signed him long term is madness to me.

I did say it at the time and some high up fell in to his demands , trust me

 

[ashep]

I did say it at the time and some high up fell in to his demands , trust me

All good I know you were on it early and not knee jerking to Saturday. But I'm still happy to have him locked away.

 

[The King!]

Can't kick it to himself and works as hard as anyone in the team so it's clearly a case of being asked to stay home in the forward line instead of suck back down the ground like Logan or McLean.

Is comfortably in the top half of medium forwards in the comp. Will always look spare if the rest of the team isn't functioning but suggesting we shouldn't have signed him long term is madness to me.

We need him for sure, I love Wilbur but do we need to be able to throw him on the ball or something in a bad game

 

[ashep]

We need him for sure, I love Wilbur but do we need to be able to throw him on the ball or something in a bad game

He's a big body and not afraid of contact. Giving him a chance in the middle might not be the worst idea.

 

[bedford]

All good I know you were on it early and not knee jerking to Saturday. But I'm still happy to have him locked away.

I'm happy to have him , but he's on too much

 

[SeanM]

If you take Papley and Hayward out of our forward line. We have no pace or attacking spark through our forwards.