Lewis Hayes

Lewis Hayes
Hayes in April 2025
Personal information
Full name Lewis Hayes
Born (2004-12-17) 17 December 2004 (age 21)
Original team Eastern Ranges (Talent League)
Draft No. 25, 2022 national draft
Debut Round 9, 2025, Essendon vs. Sydney, at Docklands Stadium
Height 199 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Club information
Current club Essendon
Number 18
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2023– Essendon 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2025 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Lewis Hayes (born 17 December 2004) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

Hayes was drafted by Essendon with pick 25 in the 2022 national draft.

Hayes spent his first two seasons with the club playing in their reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL), winning the VFL team's best first year player award in 2023 and finishing runner up in the Best & Fairest award in 2024. Despite having not yet made an appearance in the AFL, Hayes' strong showings in the VFL earned him a two year contract extension, following the expiry of his initial two year draft contract.

Hayes' long-awaited AFL debut came in Round 9, 2025 against the Sydney Swans at Docklands Stadium, debuting alongside fellow debutant, Archer Day-Wicks. Hayes unfortunately suffered a ruptured Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the third quarter of his debut, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

A couple of weeks before Hayes' return to competitive football in mid-2026, he signed a one-year contract extension to remain at the club until the end of 2027. Hayes made his return in the VFL a couple of weeks later, however re-injured his ACL in his return match, ruling him out for another year.

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2025 season.

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2023Essendon18[citation needed] 0——————————————0
2024Essendon18[citation needed] 0——————————————0
2025Essendon18 10061016320.00.06.010.016.03.02.00
Career 10061016320.00.06.010.016.03.02.00

References

  1. ↑ "Lewis Hayes drafted by Essendon Football Club". Ferntree Gully Mail. 1 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Hayes bolsters Dons' young defensive talent". Essendon Football Club. 5 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Year in Review: Hayes looking to go to 'next level'". Essendon Football Club. 9 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Hayes earns new deal". Essendon Football Club. 24 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Hayes called up for AFL debut". Essendon Football Club. 7 May 2025.
  6. ↑ "Bombers name two debutants to face Swans". AFL Media. 8 May 2025.
  7. ↑ "Injury news: Lewis Hayes". Essendon Football Club. 11 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "Scans confirm worst fears for Bombers debutant". AFL Media. 11 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "Hayes signs on until 2027". Essendon Football Club. 21 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Young Essendon defender Lewis Hayes ruptures ACL in first game back from same injury". Seven News. 2 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lewis Hayes". AFL Tables. Retrieved 9 February 2026.