LENNY Hayes has admitted how close he came to pulling the pin on his illustrious career at the end of the 2013 season.

But after electing to play on, much to the delight of his teammates, the highly regarded veteran couldn’t be happier with the decision at the halfway point of his 16th AFL season.

“I was pretty close last year to not going on but I’m glad I did play and I felt I had a bit more to give,” Hayes told SAINTS.com.au this week.

RELATED: Lenny to play on

“Working with these young guys has been really rewarding even though we haven’t got the results we would have liked.

“I’m still really enjoying it. I love playing for the footy club and I’ll hopefully get a few more wins before my career is over.”

In many ways, St Kilda’s current predicament mirrors the club’s fortunes when names like Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna and Hayes emerged on the scene over a decade ago.

In 2000, Hayes’ second season, he played in 22 games for just two victories, however after just missing out on finals in 2003, St Kilda was just one straight kick away from a Grand Final birth in 2004, losing to the eventual premiers Port Adelaide at Football Park.  

“We want to win some more games because at the moment, it reminds me of when Rooey and I first started – there was a bit of hardship,” Hayes recalled. 

“But it is going to turn around. They (the youngsters) are going to be playing some really good footy for a long time for the club.”


Lenny in action. (Photo: Dave Savell)


One up-and-coming Saint who has impressed the 34-year-old is Luke Dunstan, and while the strong bodied midfielder plays a similarly uncompromising style of footy to Hayes, the veteran refuses to take any recognition for Dunstan’s rapid rise to prominence which included a Rising Star nomination in round one.

“He wants to learn, he wants to improve and it times that can be quite rare with a guy that is only 19. He wants to get better every day and he’s been a real pleasure to work with,” he said.

“He’s really self-driven and I can’t take any credit whatsoever because he’s always sourced me out.”

RELATED: Lenny leading the way

In addition to Dunstan, Hayes has enjoyed watching the likes of Jack Billings, Jack Newnes, Seb Ross and Nathan Wright develop into committed and consistent AFL footballers this season.

“We’ve got games into some of these guys and that will hold them in good stead for the future… That’s one of the positives from this year.”


Lenny is regularly winning the hard ball and dishing it out to his teammates

Not since 2010 has Hayes enjoyed such a prolific first half of the season, averaging 26.7 disposals in the 10 games he’s played.

Part of the reason for this re-emergence, following an injury riddled 2013, he says, is Alan Richardson.

“I think he has been sensational,” he said. “You can’t ask for too much more in a coach.”

And the veteran is well-qualified to assess Richardson’s coaching credentials, having played under Tim Watson, Malcolm Blight, Grant Thomas, Ross Lyon and Scott Watters throughout his career.

Above all else, it’s “Richo’s” forthrightness that resonates with the 287-gamer.

“He’s really honest with you and you know where you stand,” he said.

“Sometimes you might not like what you hear but at least you know and understand where you need to improve. He’s really calm but he will wack you between the eyes if you really need it.”
At three wins and two losses following a rousing victory over Essendon in round five, St Kilda shaped as one of the AFL’s biggest surprise packets. But without a win since, Hayes maintains that the only way to turn things around is through creating the right training habits.

“We are going to keep working hard and it will turn for us.”

PREVIEW: St Kilda vs Geelong