Will Hayes Draft Profile

ClaremontWing

#5

Will Hayes

height: 180cm

weight:

D.O.B: 16-05-2006

Leagues: WAFL Colts, AFL U18 Championships

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A wingman with terrific endurance who runs intelligent patterns and plays his specialist role to a tee.” – Denholm Melrose

Despite an injury affected season, Will Hayes has proven to be the premier wingman in the WAFL Colts competition and is every chance to be drafted in November. He patrolled the outside for both the premiership winning Claremont Tigers and for Western Australia at the National Championships where Hayes was an Under 18 State representative.

STRENGTHS:

+ Agility
+ Ball use
+ Endurance
+ Running patterns
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Speed

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Decision making
- Goalkicking accuracy
- Strength

Hayes is the perfect definition of an ideal wingman. He runs both ways up and down the expanses for whichever side he plays with. He excelled at the role for Western Australia in the National Championships as well as spending time forward of the ball where he played a lot of his bottom-age WAFL Colts season in 2023.

Hayes runs superb patterns around the ground, creating space for himself to receive the ball at pace and allowing him to burst forward at every opportunity. He is always in a good spot to win the football and excels at turning his body towards goal or his side’s forward 50 after handball receives. Hayes’ speed and endurance make him a dangerous prospect capable of hitting the scoreboard or rebounding from half-back.

Though at times his decision making can be shaky as he backs himself to hit any kick, his ball use is mostly very sound. He has the presence of mind to lower his eyes going inside 50 and hit forward targets, as well as nail 45-degree kicks around the ground popping in and out of the corridor. As a small, given he hits the ball at full tilt, some of his ground level handling could be sharpened.

At the National AFL Draft combine Hayes, put his speed-endurance mix on full display with third and fourth-place finishes in the agility test and 2km time trial respectively. His 6:16 time trial showed his elite stamina in being able to run all day, and his agility time of 7.850 spoke to his ability to weave in and out of traffic, whether with ball in hand or not.

As a forward, Hayes kicked nine goals from 10 games in his bottom-age WAFL Colts season, and for Western Australia this year he hit the scoreboard on multiple occasions as well. However, he kicked multiple behinds for WA and finished season 2024 with 2.6 for Claremont. If he can improve his accuracy on goal and become nearly a goal-a-game player, he will be looked at very closely at the next level.

DRAFT RANGE: Late-Rookie

SUMMARY:

Whilst probably a late pick in the draft, Hayes possesses some of the most necessary traits for AFL footballers in his running ability, ball use and willingness to get forward and have shots on goal. Even is Hayes is not drafted this year, he could work his way onto an AFL list in the future given his aerobic ability and natural talent. He measures up at 180cm but is quite lightly-framed, so may be a more long-term prospect.