Restricted Free Agent Will Hayward [RFA 2024]

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Honestly want him to stay

HFF is the hardest position on the field to play, and I think he does it very well.

His also done a great job negating the opposition's best interceptor at times this year.

Hard to gauge his value, bit of a team player, but chips in for a few goals a game generally and provides value.

To be honest your view above represents a clear majority of Swans Board posters.

 

[Bonz]

To be honest your view above represents a clear majority of Swans Board posters.

I wouldn't say so, think Hayward is a bit polarising to our fan base, think some people thought he would be a super star, but I reckon his just a good top 12 odd player for us and would walk into any side in the league.

I honestly rate Florent above him but think both are best 18 and should be kept.

My problem is I don't know how to rate Hayward from a contract sense.

 

[Orange crush]

WillHayward You re-signing with the swans, buddy?

 

[The Edukator]

Lots of people on the Swans board will tell you he is useless and the likes, he is defintely our whipping boy when we lose or if has a quiet game. But, every club isn't going to be filled with a-graders. You need others that can come in and do a job; which Hayward does. He's not going to light up the stats sheet, but he's a pretty good outlet for us coming out of defense and is a solid mark. Goalkicking could better, but I hope we keep him, honestly.

Will be another Cerra for Carlton. Got even better once he moved.

 

[WillHayward]

WillHayward You re-signing with the swans, buddy?

You'd think so.

Maybe the Crows or Port might make inquires?

 

[Orange crush]

You'd think so.

Maybe the Crows or Port might make inquires?

Weagles could use you

 

[simba_]

the ipad man

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I'm obviously bias but is there a club in more desperate need for extra forward options than Carlton? Feel like all the clubs mentioned in Morris' report are pretty stacked for options, especially in comparison?

 

[Adnico26Parker]

From Cal Twomey today:

Hayward is expected to wait until later in the season before making a contract decision amid a rush of rival interest in South Australia and Victoria

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

If the Blues aren't putting a very tempting offer forward to him they'd be negligent in their duty. Everybody knows how desperate we are for some more options forward of centre.

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

If the Blues aren't putting a very tempting offer forward to him they'd be negligent in their duty. Everybody knows how desperate we are for some more options forward of centre.

I would go as far to say if he gets to Victoria but isn’t in a Carlton jumper it’s a fail. Don’t think I can do another year of relying on Jack Martin when we could pay a bit more in salary for a more durable, consistent and younger version.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Tom Morris seemed to throw Carlton into the mix with the last line in an article on WWOS re Carlton's Academy and Ireland trip:

"Carlton's list spots are tight, though they believe they have room for strong Sydney-restricted free agent Will Hayward

9

Will Hayward

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

should he leave the Swans."

Carlton embarks on scheme to lock in Irish talent

As extensive trip to Ireland revealed

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[Vindicater]

If the Blues aren't putting a very tempting offer forward to him they'd be negligent in their duty. Everybody knows how desperate we are for some more options forward of centre.

Yep. Makes sense but will you have the coin? Is Williams coming off the books soon?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Yep. Makes sense but will you have the coin? Is Williams coming off the books soon?

I believe so, and I think next year but could be wrong.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I believe so, and I think next year but could be wrong.

Williams signed for 6 years until end 2026. But i assume its frontloaded

Although i assume mcgovern and martin come off the mega deals this year?

The issue for carlton might be if they want a hayward or stengle they might need to move some depth guys out to create cap room. Im thinking the young/pittonet/fogarty/cuningham/fantasia (plus move martin or mcgovern on or offer them low $ only).
But this might be hard to do if some of those guys are contracted (you wont delist and payout) on $that other teams dont want them on.
Im assuming you want to try and hang onto young guys like cowan until tassie comes in so its those 26-28yos that you move on if you are trying to make cap room for free agents.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Williams signed for 6 years until end 2026. But i assume its frontloaded

Although i assume mcgovern and martin come off the mega deals this year?

The issue for carlton might be if they want a hayward or stengle they might need to move some depth guys out to create cap room. Im thinking the young/pittonet/fogarty/cuningham/fantasia (plus move martin or mcgovern on or offer them low $ only).
But this might be hard to do if some of those guys are contracted (you wont delist and payout) on $that other teams dont want them on.
Im assuming you want to try and hang onto young guys like cowan until tassie comes in so its those 26-28yos that you move on if you are trying to make cap room for free agents.

I think we'll be making some tough calls end of this year on some forever injured types like Cuningham, Martin etc.

Young for me might look to find a new home and he'd be on a good contract given when he signed it he was in ripping form. Him and Weitering don't mesh like Stewart and Esava for u guys, needs to go imo.

Kennedy would be on good money but he's a great player for what we're about so doubt we'd move him even if it were for list balance.

Certainly a few names to think about for us, what's clear is our small fwds simply must be upgraded. They are holding us back massively.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Media today reports Port have joined the race; “he’s parked his deal at the moment, he’s a man in demand everywhere”

New club ‘joins chase’ for Swan; Eagle’s $800k dilemma after ‘costly’ delay — Trade Whispers

New club ‘joins chase’ for Swan; Eagle’s $800k dilemma after ‘costly’ delay — Trade Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[crankygeese]

Media today reports Port have joined the race; “he’s parked his deal at the moment, he’s a man in demand everywhere”

New club ‘joins chase’ for Swan; Eagle’s $800k dilemma after ‘costly’ delay — Trade Whispers

New club ‘joins chase’ for Swan; Eagle’s $800k dilemma after ‘costly’ delay — Trade Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

At least the high interest from other teams will drive his price up and so drive up the value of the compo pick we get.
I've come to accept that probably both of Hayward and Florent are leaving. Here's hoping they get paid very well by somebody.

 

[BigFrizz36]

At least the high interest from other teams will drive his price up and so drive up the value of the compo pick we get.
I've come to accept that probably both of Hayward and Florent are leaving. Here's hoping they get paid very well by somebody.

At best a band 1 will get you a pick after where you finish - say top 4 would get you 16/17 if there are a few F.S and academy picks. Band 2 gets you an end of first rounder say 20/21. Not too much difference.

 

[ABAB]

The Crows would be better off recruiting midfielders, Rankine and Rachele will never be mids at afl level

You didn't see Rachele's played midfield in his junior years and played midfield in the first 8 weeks last year when he averaged 20 disposals and kicked 10.10? Rankine also played midfield in his junior years and showed his midfield class against Carlton.

 

[Ash1337]

At best a band 1 will get you a pick after where you finish - say top 4 would get you 16/17 if there are a few F.S and academy picks. Band 2 gets you an end of first rounder say 20/21. Not too much difference.

Yeah it'll end up being the difference of 26 to 31 in the end. Swans will be screwed no matter the compensation this year.

 

[crankygeese]

Yeah it'll end up being the difference of 26 to 31 in the end. Swans will be screwed no matter the compensation this year.

I absolutely agree, the picks themselves won't have much value at the draft due to them being pushed out.

But I suspect the point won't be so much to use the picks, it will be to package them up and trade them to teams that need the points. We don't need quantity, we need quality.

We currently have our own 1st rounder, the end of 1st round pick we got from North as part of the Dylan Stephens trade. If Florent and Hayward both go for Band 2, then they are also end of 1st round picks after the North pick.

With Ashcroft, Welsh, at least one of the Camporeale boys (maybe even both of them) and others in the father/son/academy pool this year, and all looking like they could be first rounders, there should be enough teams looking to make trades. Either to move their picks back because they can't get ahead of a top 5 pick, or to get an earlier pick than their natural second rounder so they can grab another young bloke before they have to match.

We could either move up the board, or move them into next year. It's the flexibility the picks represent that hold value rather than the picks themselves in this kind of situation. Kinnear has proven many times over he's a shrewd operator in that space, so I'd back him to make the most of it.

 

[Ash1337]

I absolutely agree, the picks themselves won't have much value due to them being pushed out.

But I suspect the point won't be so much to use the picks, it will be to package them up and trade them to teams that need the points. We don't need quantity, we need quality.

We currently have our own 1st rounder, the end of 1st round pick we got from North as part of the Dylan Stephens trade. If Florent and Hayward both go for Band 2, then they are also end of 1st round picks after the North pick.

With Ashcroft, Welsh, at least one of the Camporeale boys (maybe even both of them) in the father/son pool this year, there should be enough teams looking to make trades. We could either move up the board, or move them into next year. It's the flexibility the picks present that hold value rather than the picks themselves in this kind of situation. Kinnear has proven many times over he's a shrewd operator in that space, so I'd back him to make the most of it.

Daly excels in picking late draftees so Swans have the luxury to trade as they please and still find value in the draft. I'd look into them targeting players like they did last year with Jordan & Grundy.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Media today reports Port have joined the race; “he’s parked his deal at the moment, he’s a man in demand everywhere”

New club ‘joins chase’ for Swan; Eagle’s $800k dilemma after ‘costly’ delay — Trade Whispers

New club ‘joins chase’ for Swan; Eagle’s $800k dilemma after ‘costly’ delay — Trade Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Come one come all! 800k+ should get as a top 5 pick using the McKay principle1!!

 

[Jeremias]

Come one come all! 800k+ should get as a top 5 pick using the McKay principle1!!

That’d be one hell of a drop off by the Swans.