Known by footballers and fans alike as the Gentleman of Football, Lenny Hayes' career in AFL has been a rollercoaster of successes and hardships.
Since joining St Kilda as a rookie, he has soldiered through a lengthy knee reconstruction which saw his career be put on hold for a year, only to discover at the end of 2012 that he had a hole in his heart, requiring him to undergo open heart surgery. He returned to the game in 2013. Hayes captained the 2004 St Kilda team and co'captained in 2007; playing alongside the likes of Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey, Nick Dal Santo and Aaron Hamill. Lenny has been selected as an All-Australian, has won the Trevor Barker medal (Best and Fairest) three times and the Norm Smith in 2010, in conjunction to being awarded life membership of the AFL.
Lenny takes us behind the scenes and into the locker rooms at St Kilda Football Club, a club that has seen it's fair share of dramas and sensations, and what emerges is a moving story of a truly great professional and his long, outstanding career.
About the Author:
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian Rules player with St Kilda Rugby Football Club. Jason Phelan is a sports journalist specialising in Australian Rules who has contributed to a wide variety of sports publications.
