Strange as it may seem, Jack Hayes was just appreciative to be out at Manuka Oval the night of his season-ending knee injury.

At first, he thought it was just a corkie. An innocuous twist in a marking contest, barely noticeable on the slow-motion replay, nevertheless proved to be the undoing of a promising first-up campaign which had captivated Saints fans in the space of just five games.

Hayes was up and running to the next contest after a few seconds – “it actually felt fine”, he recounts – but as soon he stood the mark and felt his left leg collapse underneath him, he knew something was seriously wrong.

It was a textbook diagnosis for an ACL; the time in recovery bordering on a year and the road back to full fitness a draining one both physically and mentally.

But bad luck on the injury front hasn’t dissipated the feeling of gratitude that being on an AFL list has brought the 26-year-old.

Only a few months prior, Hayes was concreting backyards in South Australia and piecing together a striking SANFL career following back-to-back Premierships for Woodville-West Torrens before the Saints’ curiosity piqued just prior to Christmas.

“Coming in as a mature-age recruit, I was very lucky to get the opportunity in the first place. I always thought if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be,” Hayes told saints.com.au.

“I was feeling great early on, I was building into it and was thinking how good it would be if I could play 18, 20 games for the year being that second ruck and forward option.

“Obviously to be struck down by injury isn’t ideal and not what you want, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. There’s nothing you can do about it. I definitely felt bad about getting injured, but knew I was still lucky to be on a list to begin with.

“It was just a freak incident. I could have done that movement 20 times during a game and have it not happen, but just that one time got me.

“I’m pretty strong mentally I found out, so hopefully I’ll be a bit better for it next year.” 

One foot in front of the other

It’s a straightforward philosophy, but one that has served Hayes well.

With each incremental milestone in his journey to the big leagues or path back from injury, the second-year Saint has continued his steady march of putting one foot in front of the other.

A call out of the blue from his manager while on the jobsite just before Christmas of last year – one he hung up on not knowing the importance of the call – was the first major step in his eventual arrival at St Kilda through the pre-season Supplemental Selection Period.

Hayes arrived at RSEA Park for three hit-outs prior to Christmas, taking only eight training sessions into the new year for the Saints to put a one-year contract in front of him for Season 2022.

The impact was near-immediate. A captivating Round 1 debut against Collingwood was the perfect introduction (Brian Taylor’s commentary of ‘Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack!’ still lives rent-free in the minds of many Saints fans), complete with three goals and a tide-turning third quarter which thrust St Kilda back in the contest.

Hayes played five of the first six games between the ruck and forward line before his season was abruptly halted by injury in late April.

Despite being ruled out for the year and with no certainty of 2023 in front of him, Hayes’ fears were swiftly allayed with a two-year contract extension the following month.

“When it got announced that I was going to be here for another two seasons, I thought I’d just put that in my back pocket and go back to putting my best foot forward in rehab to do whatever it takes to get back on the ground next year,” Hayes said.

Hayes is currently tracking well in his recovery, rekindling the fundamentals and joining in for light, contact-free duties with the Saints’ pre-season officially underway this week.

Early February has been tentatively pencilled in for a full return to training, with the pre-season community series likely to commence the following month.

“The last couple of months definitely have gone quick. Obviously during the year when you’re sitting on the sidelines watching the boys play, there’s probably no worse feeling that you can’t really do anything,” Hayes said.

“Like I said, I just put my best foot forward every day and see where it goes from there.”

A friendship through hardship

As many players discover in the immediate aftermath of a long-term injury, rehab can be quite the lonely place.

While the arduous commitments in the gradual, physical rebuild take their toll, it’s the mental strain and silent battle that carries the biggest weight.

Hayes hasn’t had to go through that journey alone however, forming a close mateship with fellow ACL rehabilitant Nick Coffield in the months-long process back to full fitness.

Despite being at opposite sides of locker room with the No. 1 and No. 47, the pair have come closer than they ever would have previously through their shared adversity.

Coffield, who alongside eventual All-Australian and Best & Fairest Jack Sinclair was a standout throughout the 2022 pre-season, had his ambitions dashed after going down in a routine match simulation session in Ballarat.

The support network from their resultant friendship hasn’t been anything overly complicated – a conversation here, a dinner there; a catch-up here, a quiet beer there – but has been the perfect template for the two Saints going through a tough road together.

With each milestone in their recovery, exhilarating or excruciating, Hayes and Coffield were joined at the hip the whole way through.

“No one wants to do an injury but having someone there in the same boat as you makes it a whole lot easier,” Hayes said.

“Coff’s been absolutely unreal. I’m probably a bit of a quieter person and he came up to me during the early part of our rehab and we pretty much hit it off straight from the start.

Both are in similar stages of their rehab in terms of workload and capabilities, with early 2023 earmarked for a full return to training and a chance to reclaim their places in St Kilda’s starting 22.

Consolidating a spot in St Kilda’s back six certainly won’t come without its challenges for Coffield, but up the other end of the ground, Hayes’ chance is fast approaching. 

Big shoes to fill

When opportunity comes knocking, Hayes will be quick to answer.

The retirement of veteran Paddy Ryder at the end of last season has left a key ruck role vacant, with Hayes, Tom Campbell and developing ruck Max Heath in the frame to fill the All-Australian’s shoes and accompany leading man Rowan Marshall.

True to form, Hayes won’t be jumping the gun. Make no mistake, eyes are firmly on a Round 1 return, hopefully to the calibre of his electrifying debut.

But as has been since he first arrived at RSEA Park close to this time last year, it’s just about putting one foot in front of the other.

“There’s a lot to play out until then, but there’s a spot there,” Hayes said.

“It’s been pretty good so far and I haven’t had any setbacks yet, so touch wood that doesn’t happen for the rest of the year and next year.

“All going well, I’ll be pushing for that spot.”