AFL 2019: Western Bulldogs midfielder Will Hayes glad he chose footy

A year after he was on the brink of a racing career, the Western Bulldogs’ Will Hayes is now chasing his AFL dream. But he says it was a tough decision to pick which path to follow.

Will Hayes attempts a mark for Footscray in the VFL last year. Picture: Getty Images

It’s horses for courses, and Will Hayes is thankful he stuck with football over horse training.

A year after he was on the brink of turning to a career in horse racing, Hayes is in the formative stages of what he hopes will be a decade-long AFL career.

The 23-year-old considered shelving his AFL dream after 2017, certain he had done everything possible to impress recruiters during his four seasons with Footscray’s VFL team.

With his father, David, one of the country’s top horse trainers, the next step in his career appeared obvious.

Will Hayes fires off a handball in the VFL.

“Quite a few times over the years,” Hayes said when asked if he lost hope of graduating to the elite level.

“I thought a few years ago I’d showed everything I had.

“At the end of 2017, I...sat down with dad and said I wanted to go more into racing and just play local footy for Euroa.

“Him and mum (Prue) were probably the ones who talked me into giving it another go, just saying I was only young and that I’d never forgive myself if I don’t give it one more crack.”

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The Malvern resident followed his parents’ advice despite his passion for racing.

What followed was a career-best season — he led the Dogs for average disposals (26 per game) and contested possessions (10), and also ranked second in the competition for uncontested possessions and third for inside-50s.

Will’s father is leading horse trainer David Hayes.

The gun midfielder was crowned Footscray’s best and fairest winner and named in the VFL team of the year before the ultimate reward came when he was snapped up by the Western Bulldogs with pick No. 78 in November’s AFL National Draft.

Hayes put his eye-catching season down to more opportunity in the middle, owing to the AFL club’s lengthy injury list.

“It’s never what you want to see, an unhealthy AFL list,” he said.

“But given all the boys not playing, I had the opportunity to step up and I felt like I was able to do that.”

Hayes worked tirelessly on his ability to win the ball on the inside to complement his skills on a wing.

Will Hayes on the burst. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“I felt like that was probably a string to my bow that I added that recruiters in previous years sort of had a cross next to my name — and it became a tick,” he said.

“It was a good opportunity to grow my game on the inside. I got a lot of time as an onballer, which I loved. Definitely part of my game I want to keep growing.”

Hayes is targeting a berth in the senior line-up in 2019 but he is acutely aware it will not be easily earned.

“We’ve got so many good midfielders. It’s going to be really tough,” he said.

Continuing at Whitten Oval means his worst-case scenario is lacing up his boots next to several familiar faces in the VFL when not needed for AFL duties.

Hayes was a state league player for five seasons and a member of the Dogs’ 2014 and 2016 premiership sides.

He said forward Billy Gowers, who was in the VFL squad before being promoted to the Western Bulldogs’ senior list, provided a “source of inspiration” after he nailed 26 goals from 20 games in 2018.

“It makes you feel like it’s possible for us VFL players that have proven form at state league level to make the jump. It definitely instils confidence in us,” Hayes said.

Hayes said it was a “dream come true” to be in the AFL system, adding there is plenty of time to pursue his interest in horses in coming years.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m going to work every day. It just feels like I’m living out a dream,” he said.

“The way I see it, if everything goes to plan my footy career is going to be 10 years long. And the very best scenario is my racing career is going to be 40 years long.

“I’ve got a lot of time for racing.”

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