Will Hayward Biography

Dean Cox says letting go of Will Hayward and Ollie Florent to land Charlie Curnow was the hardest choice he's had to make in his time as coach.

"I've been at the football club now for nine years, I've spent a lot of time with Will and Ollie, and the hardest part as well is that we finished six weeks before trade period starts with so much uncertainty around whether players want to come to your club, whether you can get them to your club, how serious stuff is. The dialogue through all of that is really difficult with the player," Cox said.

"The hard part is dealing with the player versus the person. That's the part I found tough to do. But my role is to make decisions for the football club and to try and make this football program as good as it can be."

Will Hayward and Ollie Florent open up on conversations with Dean Cox following their trade move from Sydney to Carlton. The pair were holidaying together in Argentina as part of their post-season celebrations when they received the news.

"Oh yeah, it was tough. It was definitely tough. They pretty much just said we want you out. We want you gone," Florent said.

"Over the whole period, I had two phone calls with 'Coxy'. That's pretty much it. Those phone calls made it pretty easy to want to join Carlton," Hayward said.

Sydney coach Dean Cox has conceded the conversations with Will Hayward and Oli Florent about being traded in order for the Swans to acquire Charlie Curnow were "very tough to do".

"The thing we did throughout the whole process was be as open and honest as we could. It's tough on players and people involved in the football club. Both Oli and Will, 184 games each, have been amazing servants for this football club. We wish them the best at Carlton and for the rest of their careers," Cox said.

Charlie Curnow is traded by Carlton to Sydney, with the Blues landing a historic haul for giving up the star goal-kicker, receiving three first-round draft picks from Sydney, and Swans forward Will Hayward.

"I accept that Charlie has been a big figure in our club for a long period of time, and the club should thank Charlie for what his contribution has been," Blues football boss Chris Davies said.

"But we feel that the time is right to make sure that we're looking for the future of our club as well."

Will Hayward turns his back on interest from rival clubs to sign a five-year deal with Sydney.

“Since I was drafted the Swans have been great to me and my family, and I’m so happy that I will be here at the club for the long term,” Hayward said.

“I feel extremely lucky that the club has put its faith in me, and our team feels we’re on the right path, so I can’t wait to get stuck in and try to achieve more success here in Sydney."

Will Hayward takes the mark of the round for round 7 of 2022.

Will Hayward signs a new four-year extension with Sydney to remain at the club until the end of 2024.

"The older boys helped show the way for us when we were drafted, and the coaching staff showed a lot of faith in us by playing us early in our careers," Hayward said.

"Hopefully I can repay that faith over the next five years and we can have some success."

Will Hayward will be out for up to a month after having surgery on a broken jaw.

Will Hayward says he feels fortunate to have Lance Franklin as a mentor at the Swans.

"Bud is always there for anything I might need and he's really, really approachable," Hayward said of Franklin.

"He chats with me to settle my nerves and makes me feel comfortable before a game, and just tells me to back myself in and just play footy.

"He's first-class when it comes to helping the young boys, and for the player that he is, he's great to have at the club."

Will Hayward earns the final NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for 2017 in round 23.

"It feels good and it was pretty surprising, given I had three kicks this week, but it’s nice to receive the nomination," Hayward said.

"But it's not really about that for me, with obviously having a pretty slow start to the year, then to be where we are now. I definitely have moments where I pinch myself, especially considering the likes of the people I play with – we've got a team full of stars."

Swans teammate Tom Papley had earlier outed Hayward in a post-game interview as coach John Longmire's favourite player.

"I don't know where that started, but 'Pap' said it in a post-match interview and that blew it up a bit," Hayward said.

"(Our relationship) is pretty much the same as every other player."

Will Hayward makes his AFL debut for Sydney at Docklands Stadium with 16 disposals (11 kicks and 5 handballs), 3 marks and 6 tackles in a 23-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Sydney select Will Hayward with pick No.21 in the 2016 National Draft.