Hayden McLean

Last updated

Hayden McLean
Hayden McLean 2019.2.jpg
McLean in 2019 playing for Sydney in the NEAFL
Personal information
Nickname(s) Dossa
Date of birth (1999-01-20) 20 January 1999 (age 26)
Original team(s) Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup)
Draft Pre-season supplemental selection, 2019
Debut Round 18, 2019, Sydney  vs. Fremantle, at Optus Stadium
Height 198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 100 kg (220 lb)
Position(s) Ruckman/key forward
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 2
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2019– Sydney 88 (89)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 12, 2025.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Hayden McLean (born 20 January 1999) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Sydney in the Australian Football League (AFL). A 1.98-metre tall who can play as a ruckman or key forward, McLean began his career in the TAC Cup before a season in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was recruited by Sydney on the eve of the 2019 season as a pre-season supplemental selection, and made his AFL debut later that year.

Contents

Junior career

McLean attended St. Bede’s College in Mentone. He played junior football for the Beaumaris Sharks [1] before joining the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup. [2] He also was a member of the AFL Academy – spending time at the Sydney Swans as part of the development program [3] – and represented Vic Metro at the AFL Under 18 Championships. In 2017, McLean became Sandringham's captain and Vic Metro's vice-captain, but was overlooked in the 2017 AFL draft. [2] [3]

He began playing in the VFL for the Sandringham Zebras, who were affiliated with AFL club St Kilda. McLean played 13 matches in 2018, averaging 5.2 marks, 10.3 hit-outs and 13.2 disposals [4] and rucking against AFL-listed players including Matthew Leuenberger, Braydon Preuss and Zac Smith. He was also named the club's best first-year player for 2018. [2] McLean trained with St Kilda in November, hoping to be selected in the 2018 AFL draft, [5] and was named by Fox Sports , which considered him similar to Adelaide ruck/forward Josh Jenkins, as a likely mature-age recruit. [6] However, he was again overlooked and moved to Adelaide to play with South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club South Adelaide in 2019. [2]

AFL career

McLean was recruited by Sydney in March 2019 as a pre-season supplemental selection to cover the loss of defender Jack Maibaum to a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury. [4] His recruitment also increased the club's depth of tall players after Kurt Tippett's retirement. [2] McLean's selection was criticised by SANFL officials, as it deprived South Adelaide of an important recruit only a fortnight before their 2019 season began, leaving them unable to find a replacement in time. [7] McLean spent most of his first season in Sydney's North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) side, before a call-up to the AFL team in round 18 – a challenging match-up rucking alongside Robbie Fox against Fremantle veteran Aaron Sandilands. [8] He played three more matches to finish the season and extended his contract with Sydney to 2020. [9] McLean signed a four-year contract extension to stay with the swans until 2027

2021

He kicked a career-high four goals in the Round 7 win against Geelong. [10]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2022 season. [11]

Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals  
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds  
  H  
Handballs  
  M  
Marks
H/O
Hit-outs
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTH/OGBKHDMTH/O
2019 Sydney 414012320431219530.00.35.85.010.83.04.813.30
2020 [a] Sydney 416512414381315140.80.24.02.36.32.22.52.30
2021 Sydney 411211667351025323300.90.55.62.98.54.41.92.51
2022 Sydney 291134734812814381.20.35.23.89.03.11.64.20
Career312711161103264106711350.90.45.23.38.53.42.34.41

Notes

  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. Gates, Zachary (15 March 2019). "McLean thrilled as Swans surprise". sydneyswans.com.au. Telstra Media . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cleary, Mitch (12 March 2019). "Swans fill final list spot with South Australian big man". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 Ryan, Peter (12 March 2019). "Sydney Swans add South Adelaide's Hayden McLean via rookie list". The Age . Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  4. 1 2 Balmer, Matt (12 March 2019). "Sydney add tall Hayden McLean to playing list". Fox Sports . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  5. Navaratnam, Dinny (5 November 2018). "Saints put state league pair on trial as 2018 draft looms". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  6. Olle, Sarah (13 November 2018). "AFL draft 2018: Mature-age VFL stars AFL clubs should consider at national and rookie drafts". Fox Sports . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  7. Sutton, Malcolm (25 March 2019). "AFL injuries bode poorly for state leagues with mid-season draft looming". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  8. Rugari, Vince (19 July 2019). "Swans back rookie ruck to handle the AFL's biggest challenge". The Age . Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  9. "Swans re-sign five, including former US college basketballer". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  10. "Swans steal victory from Cats in SCG thriller". The Australian. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  11. "Hayden McLean". AFL Tables. Retrieved 22 August 2022.