Homecoming for NSW champion Hayes

By Jack McAnespie

The Sydney Swans have continued their march towards September, after last week holding off a determined Port Adelaide outfit in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Adelaide Oval to remain at the top of the AFL ladder.

Whilst AFL circles in NSW/ACT are reeling at the success of the non-Victorian based Swans, this week sees another milestone to be played out at the SCG.

Former Pennant Hills junior, and New South Wales superstar Lenny Hayes, will return to his state of origin, to play his final AFL game on home soil.

The much loved 34-year old, has received a large number of tributes since he announced his retirement in front of his teammates and family, halfway through last month.

Current Saints captain, Nick Riewoldt praised Hayes following the announcement last month, not just for his football ability, but also for his character and personality.

“He’s just the ultimate teammate, the ultimate player and … off the field he’s the nicest, best guy and most fiercely loyal guy that you would ever meet. Of all the people I’ve ever met in football, he’s the best person and the best player as well,” said Riewoldt.

Riewoldt’s high level of praise lends weight to the general perception that Hayes is not only an incredible player, but one of the AFL’s genuine nice-guys – a fierce competitor who is happy to lend a hand to anyone who needs it, inside football or not.

Hayes will leave the game at the end of the 2014 season as one of the most celebrated, and idolized players of the modern era.

Hayes’ record shows that he has been one of the most successful footballers of the past few decades, boasting three All-Australian selections (2003, 2005, 2009), three Trevor Barker Awards as the Saints Best and Fairest winner (2003, 2010, 2012), a two-time captain of the St. Kilda Football Club (2004, 2007), along with a Norm Smith Medal, awarded to the player adjudged best aground in the AFL Grand Final, which he won in the drawn 2010 Grand Final against the Magpies.

Hayes will finish his career on 297 games, just shy of 300 AFL matches – a milestone seemingly fit for a player of his calibre and status in the game.

This year will see the end of a 16-year career, decorated with almost every AFL achievement, bar a Premiership, which he was close to achieving in 2010, as he led the Saint to an AFL Grand Final draw, and then loss the following week, in a year which he claimed the St. Kilda Best and Fairest Award.

However, there is no doubt that the AFL world will remember Hayes, as one of the most outstanding and upstanding members of it’s game. There is little hesitation in suggesting that he is a champion of the sport, and will be remembered in such a way.