Jack Hayes is soaring as Eagles aim to end nine-year SANFL premiership drought in 2020
Woodville-West Torrens are flying in the 2020 premiership race and Jack Hayes is one of the main reasons the Eagles are back in flag contention. SEE THE SANFL TOP 25 PLAYERS HERE
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Strong-marking utility Jack Hayes has become the most influential player in the SANFL and led Woodville-West Torrens’ stunning charge to flag favouritism.
That is the overwhelming opinion of the eight SANFL coaches, who claim the 193cm Hayes has become the ultimate swingman and hardest match-up in the competition.
SEE OUR SANFL TOP 25 PLAYERS BELOW
Three of new Eagles’ coach Jade Sheedy's seven rivals have named Hayes, 24, as the player they would most like to poach from an opposition club.
“Hayes is the most influential key forward in the league,’’ South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright said.
“He can hit the scoreboard and take contested grabs all around the ground. Apart from his ability to catch the ball and get into the right spots, he brings a great contest in the front half for the Eagles – aerially and at ground level.
“He’s certainly the player I’d like to recruit from another club.’’
North Adelaide coach Jacob Surjan, who has taken his team from ninth last year to second after seven rounds, described Hayes as “my favourite player from another club’’.
“He’s a very good forward who can go in the ruck and even play down back if needed,’’ Surjan said.
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“He’s just a high quality player who is going to get better and better and I’d poach him in a heartbeat if I could.’’
New Central District coach Jeff Andrews also named Hayes as the biggest rival difference maker.
“He took 14 marks against us (in round six) and we didn’t have an answer for him,’’ Andrews said.
“We planned for him and he still got hold of us and was clearly the difference between the teams.’’
Hayes, who has alternated between attack and being lead ruckman Jarrad Redden’s back-up, has averaged 19 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, three clearances and 11 hit-outs while kicking nine goals at the halfway point of the minor round where every club has played each other once in a restructured 14-round season.
He has averaged a whopping 135 Champion Data ranking points – behind only veteran Norwood ruckman Sam Baulderstone (138).
Sheedy, who has his side sitting top with a 6-1 record, hailed Hayes’ performances, saying he had not seen a more influential player this season.
“He’s the No. 1 player in the comp,’’ he said.
“Obviously I’m biased but Jack’s flexibility to be able to start forward and then be our second ruck and catch the ball behind play, drift forward and catch it and hit the scoreboard, he’s a special talent.’’
Hayes edges evergreen Redlegs big man Baulderstone for The Advertiser's SANFL player of the first half of the season.
Baulderstone is enjoying arguably a career-best year at age 29 and has been the dominant ruckman.
Sturt coach Nathan Grima described him as “a class above’’ in the ruck department and the player he would most like to have at his club.
Rebounding South half-back Joey Haines (two), North forward Lewis Hender and West Adelaide captain Tom Keough also had “most wanted’’ nods from coaches.
Here are, with input from the eight coaches, the top 25 SANFL players based on 2020 performances and team impact at the midway point of the season.
Players who have played fewer than five games were not considered.
SANFL TOP 25 PLAYERS
1. JACK HAYES
(Eagles)
Key forward/ruck
Champion Data ranking points ave: 135
Key stats: 19 disp, 7 mks (ave), 75 ho, 9 gls
Eagles’ Mr Fixit has been given licence to thrill and dominated all around the ground.
2. SAM BAULDERSTONE
(Norwood)
Ruck
Points ave: 138
Key stats: 18 disp, 7 clear (ave), 278 ho
Norwood’s heartbeat has largely kept his side in the finals hunt after a tough 0-3 start.
3. JOEY HAINES
(South Adelaide)
Defender
Points ave: 107
Key stats: 23 disp, 8 mks (ave)
Last year's Knuckey Cup runner-up has taken his marking and rebounding game to an even higher level.
4. MATTHEW BROADBENT
(South Adelaide)
Midfielder
Points ave: 120
Key stats: 23 disp, 6 mks (ave)
Former Power defender has been a revelation in the midfield in his first season with the Panthers.
5. ANDREW MOORE
(North Adelaide)
Midfielder
Points ave: 123
Key stats: 25 disp, 7 clear (ave)
Former Power and Richmond midfielder has returned to the SANFL to be a key driver in North’s return to prominence.
6. RICHARD DOUGLAS
(Norwood)
Midfielder
Points ave: 113
Key stats: 25 disp, 5 clear (ave), 10 gls
Former Crows star has starred back in the SANFL at age 33, providing on and off-field leadership.
7. MATTHEW SNOOK
(Glenelg)
Midfielder
Points ave: 131
Key stats: 28 disp, 10 clear (ave)
Last year’s Jack Oatey Medallist contemplated taking the season off but is in arguably career-best form.
8. TOM HIGHMORE
(South Adelaide)
Defender
Points ave: 104
Key stats: 20 disp, 8 mks (ave)
Canberra recruit has been a revelation. Numbers would have been higher but for suffering a bad ankle injury early against Norwood on Sunday.
9. JOEL CROSS
(South Adelaide)
Midfielder
Points ave: 112
Key stats: 24 disp, 7 clear (ave)
Dual Magarey Medallist keeps on keeping on at age 33, continually getting first hands on the ball in the middle.
10. JAMES ROWE
(Eagles)
Small forward
Points ave: 101
Key stats: 14 disp (ave), 22 gls
Put simply, he is the best small forward in the competition, ranking second in total goals.
11. LIAM McBEAN
(Glenelg)
Key forward
Points ave: 104
Key stats: 12 disp, 5 mks (ave), 25 gls
Last year’s Ken Farmer Medallist is arguably in better form this season and again leads the goalkicking.
12. JAMES BATTERSBY
(Sturt)
Midfielder
Points ave: 127
Key stats: 26 disp, 10 clear (ave)
Clearance king has continued to rack up possessions – and clearances – in a struggling side.
13. MATT PANOS
(Norwood)
Midfielder
Points ave: 110
Key stats: 21 disp, 6 mks (ave), 10 gls
New Redlegs captain has successfully mixed midfield with forward line duties, kicking 10 goals.
14. CAMPBELL COMBE
(North Adelaide)
Midfielder
Points ave: 125
Key stats: 23 disp, 11 tack (ave)
Tough, under-the-radar, no-fuss ball magnet is a tackling king who gets the job done each week.
15. LUKE PARTINGTON
(Glenelg)
Midfielder
Points ave: 109
Key stats: 24 disp, 4 clear (ave), 7 gls
Magarey Medallist hasn't been at his brilliant best but has had a couple of huge games.
16. HARRISON WIGG
(North Adelaide)
Defender
Points ave: 93
Key stats: 23 disp, 6 mks
Luckless former Crow and Sun has fitted back into the SANFL superbly, becoming a key backline playmaker.
17. CAMERON CRAIG
(North Adelaide)
Defender
Points ave: 99
Key stats: 19 disp, 7 mks (ave)
Been the key tall figure and marking option in a Roosters defence conceding just 61 points a game.
18. JARRAD REDDEN
(Eagles)
Ruck
Points ave: 95
Key stats: 13 disp, 4 clear (ave), 210 ho
Veteran big man has turned back the clock, being the second-ranked ruckman behind Baulderstone.
19. JORDAN FOOTE
(Eagles)
Midfielder
Points ave: 99
Key stats: 24 disp, 7 clear (ave)
Reigning club champion has missed two games through injury but is the Eagles’ most dynamic midfielder, with coach Jade Sheedy describing his bursts as “Chris Judd-like’’.
20. JAMES BOYD
(Central District)
Midfielder
Points ave: 131
Key stats: 32 disp, 6 mks (ave)
Moved back to his former club from the Eagles this season and while his defensive skills have been questioned he leads the league in disposals.
21. JIMMY TOUMPAS
(Eagles)
Midfielder
Points ave: 92
Key stats: 25 disp, 4 mks (ave)
Former Melbourne and Power midfielder has won plenty of the ball and distributed it well.
22. MITCH GRIGG
(Norwood)
Midfielder
Points ave: 102
Key stats: 23 disp, 6 mks (ave), 7 gls
Dual Magarey Medallist hasn’t been at his dominant best but has still been a key contributor.
23. TROY MENZEL
(Central District)
Forward/midfielder
Points ave: 95
Key stats: 22 disp, 8 mks (ave), 6 gls
Has relished more midfield time this season, boosting his disposals and marks averages.
24. ANDREW BRADLEY
(Glenelg)
Midfielder
Points ave: 97
Key stats: 23 disp, 6 mks (ave)
Former skipper has been one of Glenelg’s most consistent players in its premiership defence.
25. BRAD McKENZIE
(Norwood)
Defender
Points ave: 98
Key stats: 20 disp, 7 mks (ave)
Playmaking, strong-marking defender has been a key to the Redlegs’ drive from the back half.