Will Hayward

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Will Hayward
Will Hayward marking.jpg
Hayward playing for Sydney in June 2017
Personal information
Full name William Hayward
Nickname Wilbur
Born (1998-10-26) 26 October 1998 (age 27)
Original team North Adelaide (SANFL)
Draft No. 21, 2016 national draft
Debut Round 2, 2017, Sydney  vs. Western Bulldogs, at Etihad Stadium
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position Forward
Club information
Current club Carlton
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2017–2025 Sydney 184 (229)
2026– Carlton 0 (0)
Total184 (229)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2025 season.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

William Hayward (born 26 October 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He had previously played for the Sydney for nine seasons.

Contents

Sydney Swans

He was drafted by Sydney with their second selection and twenty-first overall, a priority draft pick, [1] [2] in the 2016 national draft. [3] He made his debut against the Western Bulldogs in the twenty-three point loss against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in round 2, 2017. [4]

Hayward received the AFL Rising Star nomination for round 23 after kicking three goals in the Swans' 81-point win over Carlton at the Sydney Cricket Ground. [5]

After a great start to the 2024 season and coming out of contract, there was a lot of speculation about what he would do next. [6] In June 2024, he signed a 5 year extension. [7]

At the end of the 2025 trade period, he was traded to Carlton in a trade deal for the Swans to receive Charlie Curnow. [8]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2025 season. [9]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2017 Sydney 91722131064715350441.30.86.22.89.02.92.60
2018 Sydney 923281817310127491711.20.87.54.411.94.03.10
2019 Sydney 9131216895814743350.91.26.84.511.33.32.70
2020 [a] Sydney 916103877416154370.60.25.44.610.13.42.30
2021 Sydney 92028151347420881601.40.86.73.710.44.13.02
2022 Sydney 9253422198103301112741.30.87.94.112.04.42.90
2023 Sydney 92325191779226999721.10.87.74.011.74.33.11
2024 Sydney 9264116201115316115661.60.67.74.412.24.42.52
2025 Sydney 92129101389923768551.40.56.64.711.33.22.63
Career184229132130376420677135141.20.77.14.211.23.92.88
  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.

Honours and achievements

Individual

Personal life

Hayward was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide, starting in grade three in 2007 and completing his final year in 2016. [10]

He played his junior football for Walkerville Junior Football Club in Adelaide’s inner east, as well as for his school. [11]

References

  1. ↑ "Pick 21: Will Hayward". Sydney Swans. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "AFL 2019: Gold Coast, Melbourne to present to AFL Commission next week". Fox Sports Australia. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Homfrey, Reece (25 November 2016). "Just six South Australian players selected in 2016 AFL Draft". The Advertiser . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Cordy, Neil (30 March 2017). "Sydney Swans name three debutants for Grand Final rematch against Western Bulldogs". The Daily Telegraph . News Corp Australia. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  5. ↑ McGowan, Marc (28 August 2017). "Three kicks enough for 'coach's pet' Rising Star". BigPond . Australian Football League. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Free agent Swan will only move to contenders as $800k price tag emerges". SEN. 6 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Hayward extends for five years". Sydney Swans. 6 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Live: Merrett deal spectacularly collapses on deadline day, Curnow gets to Swans". ABC News. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Will Hayward". AFL Tables. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "Hayward to reach a milestone". sydneyswans.com.au. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Hayward's star rises". sydneyswans.com.au. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2024.


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