Western Bulldogs’ Will Hayes back with father David Hayes helping out at Lindsay Park Racing Stables

While he hopes his AFL career is still just in its infancy, Will Hayes has had another taste of what life after football will look like as he spends the suspension period back home helping famous horse-training father David Hayes.

Chris Cavanagh

2 min read

April 6, 2020 - 5:14PM

Will Hayes has a very interesting hobby during the AFL shutdown. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

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More than two hours before sunrise, Will Hayes bounces out of bed.

For the Western Bulldogs midfielder, the suspension of the AFL season has been no holiday.

Instead, early rises have become the new normal back on the family farm near Euroa in northern Victoria.

With Victorian horse racing still in full swing, it is all hands on deck at the Lindsay Park Racing Stables where father David and brother Ben continue to train winners.

“I’ve got a pretty nice daily routine up here where I get up around 4.30am, head into the stables and ‘muck out’, which is pretty much just cleaning the stables,” Will told the Herald Sun.

“Then about 6.30am when the first horses are ridden I’ll get in my car and go up to the hut and have a few coffees and watch the horses work up the hill.

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Western Bulldogs player Will Hayes trains on his family's property. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Will Hayes gets a gym session in. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“We’re servicing our water walk at the moment as well which is just literally scrubbing the walls after we drained it. There’s always little things like that to do around the farm so I’m keeping busy every day.”

Will hit the road home the day after the AFL season was suspended and would not have it any other way.

“I think I’m pretty lucky,” he said.

“I’ve definitely got the best of a bad situation, being able to still be a part of my family business and seeing how that all works. I think I’m pretty fortunate to have so much stimulation.”

Football has not been completely forgotten, though.

Will has kept in contact with teammates on WhatsApp and has about 2000 acres of land to run around and complete his personal training program to stay match-fit.

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“There’s no shortage or hills around here,” Will laughed.

“I was very glad that my parents gave me the ability to pursue my football dreams because without their blessing I definitely wouldn’t have done it.”

In his first year with the Bulldogs last season, the 24-year-old played nine AFL games including the club’s elimination final loss to Greater Western Sydney.

He was suspended for Round 1 this year for laying a sling tackle during the Marsh Community Series, but hopes it will not be too long before he will be back on the field to help the Bulldogs make amends for a 52-point loss to Collingwood in the season opener.

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“We know we’re a lot better than that so it’s a shame we’ve had to wait so long until Round 2 but when that does come around I’m sure we’ll be ready to go,” Will said.

While hopes are the footy career continues to blossom, Will knows exactly where he’ll be heading back to when it is all said and done.

“I’ve always had a strong passion for racing ever since I was a kid,” Will said.

“I’m fortunate to have an idea of what my life after footy looks like, so especially in times like this I can really focus on developing myself out of football in an area I know I’ll have to be sufficient in one day.”