Congratulations to Lenny Hayes – 250 games
AFL NSW/ACT would like to congratulate St Kilda’s Lenny Hayes on his 250th match to be played against the Swans tomorrow.
As one of the most successful football exports from New South Wales, we are proud to recognise his stellar career spanning 14 seasons in the AFL. Lenny started playing football with the Pennant Hills Demons, the same club as noted AFL players Mark and Jarrad McVeigh, and Kieran Jack.
Prior to being drafted in 1998, Lenny was a part of several NSW/ACT representative teams, including the 1998 NSW/ACT RAMS that competed in the TAC Cup where he was awarded the Morrish Medal for Best and Fairest.
Playing his first season for St Kilda in 1999, he earned an AFL Rising Star nomination in the final round of the season – the first of many plaudits he would earn in his illustrious career. Hayes has been named in the All Australian team three times, as well as being recognised as the St Kilda Club Champion twice in his career.
He captained the Saints from 2004 until 2007, after which he was named vice-captain from 2008 until 2010. During St Kilda’s double grand final appearance in 2010, he was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the drawn first grand final.
After succumbing to injury for the majority of the 2011 season; Hayes has made a triumphant comeback for the Saints and is set to take the field this weekend against the Swans, where he will notch his 250th match.
Congratulations to Lenny, who is a credit to the football programs in NSW and the ACT that continue to produce exciting young AFL players every year.
