Will Hayward

For the Twin Peaks character, see Doc Hayward.

William O. A. Hayward (born 26 October 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Will Hayward
Hayward playing for Sydney in March 2017
Personal information
Full name	William O. A. Hayward
Nickname(s)	Wilbur
Date of birth	(1998-10-26) 26 October 1998 (age 26)
Original team(s)	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(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Sydney
Number	9
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2017–	Sydney	182 (227)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 20, 2025.
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star nominee: 2017
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2022 season.^[8]

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
2017	Sydney	9	17	22	13	106	47	153	50	44	1.3	0.8	6.2	2.8	9.0	2.9	2.6	0
2018	Sydney	9	23	28	18	173	101	274	91	71	1.2	0.8	7.5	4.4	11.9	4.0	3.1	0
2019	Sydney	9	13	12	16	89	58	147	43	35	0.9	1.2	6.8	4.5	11.3	3.3	2.7	0
2020[a]	Sydney	9	16	10	3	87	74	161	54	37	0.6	0.2	5.4	4.6	10.1	3.4	2.3	0
2021	Sydney	9	20	28	15	134	74	208	81	60	1.4	0.8	6.7	3.7	10.4	4.1	3.0	2
2022	Sydney	9	25	34	22	198	103	301	112	74	1.3	0.8	7.9	4.1	12.0	4.4	2.9	0
Career			114	134	87	787	457	1244	431	321	1.1	0.7	6.9	4.0	10.9	3.7	2.8	2

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

• AFL Rising Star nominee: 2017 (round 23)

Personal life

Hayward was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide, starting in grade three in 2007 and completing his final year in 2016.^[9]

He played his junior football for Walkerville Junior Football Club in Adelaide’s inner east, as well as for his school.^[10]