SANFL star Jack Hayes will finally get his chance to make an AFL list after St Kilda invited the utility to train with the club over the summer.
Hayes, 24, has been dominating the South Australian state league for Woodville-West Torrens and his 2021 season saw him become a genuine contender to snap up an AFL list spot.
In 2021, Hayes captained the SA state team, won the Jack Oatey medal for best on ground in his club’s Grand Final win over Glenelg, whilst also finishing equal third in the league’s best and fairest, the Magarey Medal.
SEN SA Breakfast’s Andrew Hayes cannot believe that Hayes is yet to be picked up by an AFL club given how dominant he’s been over the past few years and believes he would flourish at the elite level if given the chance.
“I think some clubs have been hesitant as he mightn’t be tall enough for a ruck, but the bloke can play footy really really well, and isn’t that all that matters,” Hayes said.
“He was straight away in the bracket where you thought Jack Hayes is going to be one of those blokes that for whatever stupid reason doesn’t get a look-in in the AFL.
“How about the fact that he’s dominating the SANFL and he’s clearly one of the best players, he could be the best player outside of the AFL not getting a gig.
“He’s still only 24, he’s got plenty of good years ahead, just give him an opportunity, see what happens.
“How much of a big investment is putting him on the rookie list for one year and seeing how they go?”
Adam Cooney, who watched Hayes dominate in that 2021 SANFL Grand Final win, couldn’t have been more impressed, labelling his performance one of a “star”.
“I saw him play in the Grand Final and thought, why isn’t he on an AFL list, this guy is a star,” Cooney said.
“I don’t know if he plays like that every week, or he just had the day of his life and won the Jack Oatey medal as the best player on the ground for the Eagles.
“I was really impressed with his game.”
The Saints have recruited shrewdly from the SANFL competition of late, securing gun defender Callum Wilkie (North Adelaide) in the 2019 rookie draft as well as mid-season recruit and Hayes’ former Eagles teammate Cooper Sharman in 2021.