Will Hayward kicks four goals in dominant Sydney Derby adding value to contract talks as interstate rivals circle to sign

Will Hayward’s three goal third quarter in Saturday’s Battle of the Bridge almost single-handedly changed the course of the match. It can only add to his contract bargaining power as rivals continue to circle.

When the votes were read out for the Brett Kirk Medal following the Swans’ dominant 29-point victory over the Giants, Errol Gulden’s second-consecutive win was widely celebrated.

And so it should, Gulden finished with a game-high 29 disposals and looked like he was playing with a dry footy when everyone else’s hands had been doused in vaseline.

But on their way back to the rooms, Will Hayward had a little quip to his All-Australian teammate.

“I thought he was a very deserving winner, absolutely,” Hayward said.

“I did tell him to put it in my locker though.”

Will Hayward of the Swans celebrates after kicking one of his four goals against GWS. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Hayward starred for the Swans with an impressive four-goal haul in an attacking display that flattened the Giants’ superstar defence. He also chipped in for 10 contested possessions, five marks, seven score involvements and three tackles as he impacted across the field.

In the third quarter alone, Hayward single-handedly turned the game in Sydney’s favour with three majors. It was an emphatic performance that showcased how valuable he is to John Longmire’s side, and why he’s one of the most in-demand players in the competition.

“He’s a threat in the air but also on the ground,” Longmire said. “He applies enormous pressure and chases so well when the ball hits the deck.

“Hopefully, he makes the opposition a little bit nervous. He gets after it at great speed and he’s been able to hit the scoreboard this year which is good.

“When it was a ground position game at different times, you need to get the ball forward and you need someone to be able to stand up and kick some goals.”

Off-contract at the end of the season, the boy from South Australia has rightly attracted interest from both the Crows and Port Adelaide, while multiple Victorian clubs reportedly have him on their radar. But it’s going to take a big deal to take him away from Sydney.

Will Hayward has rivals circling as he comes out of contract at year’s end. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

This masthead reported that multiple first-round draft picks could even be on the table for a deal involving Hayward. But even then, you would need at least two players to match what he is able to produce on the field with the 25-year-old proving himself to be one of the most versatile players in the competition.

“I mean, the (contract) chat is the chat,” Longmire said. “But we highly value him and we think he’s a very good player and he’s really popular among his teammates.

“He can play a couple of different roles. He can get up the ground and use his run and discipline … then he can play a bit deeper as well. He’s very good at that, playing a role. He’s got some flex.”

Saturday afternoon’s match carried extra meaning for Hayward as the Swans celebrated Ollie Florent’s 150th milestone. Florent and Hayward are thick as thieves, even starting their own drinks company, Doozy, together during their time in Sydney.

“It was nice to get a win in such a special game for Ollie in his 150th,” Hayward said. “It was just a special day and really proud of the team.

Will Hayward has rightly attracted interest from both the Crows and Port Adelaide, while multiple Victorian clubs reportedly have him on their radar. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“It’s been an honour to play a lot of footy with Ollie and to get a special win in a Derby means a lot. I’m sure he’s a very happy man.

“A lot of the way we play comes off our pressure. We get energy off of each other’s one-percenters, it lifts us as a team. Someone making a tackle fuels the next person to go hard and it was a good four-quarter effort by everyone.”

With Florent re-signing this week with the Swans for five more years, the latest of three big new contracts alongside Gulden and James Rowbottom, Hayward proved that his signature is going to be just as important for Longmire.

Sydney has always remained confident of keeping all five big-name players coming off deals, with Logan McDonald’s negotiations progressing well.

But they’ll want to keep the good vibes rolling in Moore Park, and there’s a fair chance that Hayward just added another few dollars to whatever deal the Swans will have to throw his way.

Originally published as Will Hayward kicks four goals in dominant Sydney Derby adding value to contract talks as interstate rivals circle to sign