St Kilda fans rejoiced on Tuesday night when it was reported by AFL.com.au that Lenny Hayes will return to Moorabbin in a coaching capacity.
With St Kilda’s finals hopes in tatters following an 8-3 start to the season, legitimate questions remain about their list profile and whether it’s capable of contending for a flag.
Since Hayes departed the Saints at the end of 2014, they’ve finished 14th, 9th, 11th, 16th, 14th, 6th and 10th, results that highlight just where the club is at compared to the rest of the competition.
Craving experience in the coaching ranks, Brett Ratten’s side and the 57,930 members will welcome Hayes back with open arms.
Following his playing days, the beloved Saint headed north and joined the Giants, where he worked as an assistant coach from 2015-2020.
A popular figure across his five seasons at GWS, Hayes stepped away from the AFL to spend more time with his young family on his NSW farm.
Tim Watson, Hayes’ former coach, believes Hayes has the characteristics that would make him a great option for the struggling Saints.
“I think it’s going to be important for St Kilda,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“He’s one of the finest, upstanding young men that I have met in my life.
“He was a coach’s dream, there was not a coach that would have ever had contact with Lenny Hayes that wouldn’t have fallen in love with him as a player.
“He’s a hard-arse, he’s honest, he’s straight, he’s authentic, down the line, a great person to have around your football club and he’s a revered figure there at St Kilda.
“There’s a lot of positives around having Lenny Hayes at your club.”
Across his decorated career and 297 games in red, white and black, Hayes won three Trevor Barker Awards and was named All-Australian on three occasions.