24 Facts About Lenny Hayes

Lenny Hayes is currently an assistant coach at the St Kilda Football Club.

Lenny Hayes was recruited by St Kilda with the 11th pick in the 1998 National Draft and made his senior debut in round five of the 1999 season.

Lenny Hayes was nominated for the AFL Rising Star Award later in the year as well.

Lenny Hayes was a first-choice player for St Kilda for virtually his whole career, other than in two seasons where he would require knee reconstructions.

Lenny Hayes would establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the league.

Lenny Hayes was named in the All-Australian team three times and placed third in the 2009 Brownlow Medal.

Lenny Hayes was a three-time winner of the Trevor Barker Award as St Kilda's best and fairest player.

Lenny Hayes played in three Grand Finals without tasting premiership success, but won the Norm Smith Medal for his performance in the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final.

Lenny Hayes was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

Lenny Hayes was born in Sydney, New South Wales to mother Elizabeth and father Chris one of two boys.

Chris was an Australian rules player from Melbourne whose grandfather Vin Maguire, Lenny Hayes's great-grandfather, played for the Geelong Football Club.

Lenny Hayes grew up in suburban Sydney and, with the encouragement of Chris, began playing junior football with Pennant Hills in the Sydney AFL.

Lenny Hayes started well and improved throughout the year, earning an AFL Rising Star nomination in the final round of the season.

Lenny Hayes played in St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup winning side, the club's third pre-season cup win.

In 2009, Lenny Hayes played his 200th AFL game in Round 9 against the Brisbane Lions at Docklands Stadium.

Lenny Hayes played in 19 of the 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club's third minor premiership.

Lenny Hayes was recognised for his excellent season with selection in the 2009 All-Australian team as a midfield player.

Lenny Hayes played in the Grand Final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.

Lenny Hayes played 25 games in 2010 and received a number of accolades for his performances during the season:.

Lenny Hayes injured his left ACL early in the 2011 season and did not play for the rest of the year.

Lenny Hayes had a fantastic season and made a brilliant recovery from the ACL injury from 2011.

Lenny Hayes played his 250th game in Round 9 against eventual premiers Sydney, gaining 25 disposals in a 28-point win for the Saints.

On 15 July 2014, Lenny Hayes announced his retirement in front of all his teammates and family.

Lenny Hayes held the record until 23 April 2017, when he was overtaken by Matt Priddis.