Swans' charge to finals a box-office hit
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 30
The "Buddy effect" and Sydney's rags to riches tilt at the flag are proving a box-office hit, with the Swans faithful flocking to the club in numbers rivalling the Tony Lockett-era.
Sports fans love a tale of redemption and the Swans' recovery from near oblivion to become a genuine premiership contender is no different.
The Swans, with an average of 33,397 per game, fell only a few hundred short of matching last year's home crowds, making the last two seasons among the most well patronised in the club's history. They rank behind only 2006-07 and 1997, when Lockett was at his pomp.
The club's pulling power was evident in its final three games at the SCG, with crowds averaging 38,000 to see the Swans continue their September charge against lowly ranked clubs St Kilda, Fremantle and Carlton.
They have also been a prime-time TV success, featuring in four of the top-10 rating games of the season.
"Once the team started to get on a roll it's that added interest with not much margin for error," Swans chief Andrew Ireland said.
"As it turned we were good enough to get there. When you look back and see no team has ever done it from 0-6 it is a unique season. Winning 14 out of 16 is a good run."
Buddy helps Hayward to Rising Star nomination
James Buckley
SMH, August 30
As Lance Franklin racked up 10 goals in Sydney's thumping win over Carlton on the weekend, this year's 22nd and final AFL Rising Star nomination Will Hayward picked off his third hat-trick of the season.
Statistically it was one of Hayward's quietest games as he managed only three touches in a remarkably efficient performance, but the AFL had seen enough already this year to nominate Hayward as one of its star youngsters after a superb debut season.
The 18-year-old has played 17 games after being taken with pick 21 in last year's draft, kicking 22 goals alongside Coleman medallist Franklin who Hayward credits as a major influence in his transition to the AFL.
"He's always there getting around me if I kick a goal, it's really good and he gives me a lot of confidence," Hayward said.
"It was very special to witness that, you don't get to run out on the SCG and witness Bud kick 10 every week so it was pretty special.
"He's been huge along with everyone else in the forward group and Brett Kirk, the forwards coach, they teach me endless things and I learn something new every training session and every day I'm here."
Teenage Swan times his run
Peter Lalor
The Australian, August 30
Will Hayward has a habit of coming good just in the nick of time. There’s proof of it in the 18-year-old’s recent Rising Star nomination. There’s proof in the very fact he is even playing senior football this season.
Playing forward for North Adelaide last year he had, by his own admission, a rollercoaster year, but it all came right as the draft approached. Hayward kicked 13 goals in two matches in the SANFL under-18s at the important end of the season, including nine in the preliminary final.
He’d had a sniff around at a few clubs during the season but an interview with Swans recruitment manager Kinnear Beatson was sobering. The teenager was told he should come back when he was serious. And fit.
Hayward thought he wouldn’t be hearing from them again but took the message on board, got himself a personal trainer and knuckled down.
And then it clicked. He’d done a lot of work with assistant coach Brad Dodd, who’d played 50 games with Fremantle around the turn of the century, and lots of work on leading towards the ball and working his opponent came to fruition in that finals series.
While the local media thought he was a chance to be picked up by Port Adelaide, Hayward was nabbed by Sydney and says he was thrilled to get a chance to go to a club which had been a powerhouse for much of his life.
The 185cm tall forward moved in with fellow South Australians James Rose and Jordan Dawson and within days of meeting the rest of the players he’d made 45 “new best mates”.
“It’s a bit of a small country town back there — it’s a beautiful place — (but) I’ve adjusted,” he said. “It took me a little while with the traffic and stuff like that but everyone here’s made me feel really welcome and I’m loving it up here.”
Young Swan having fun with his Buddy
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, August 30
TWELVE months ago it was highly unlikely Lance Franklin had ever heard of Will Hayward.
Why would he? The young gun was running around for North Adelaide in the SANFL under-18s.
On Saturday, Hayward earned a Rising Star nomination, enjoyed a front-row seat at Buddy’s 10-goal show at the SCG and even got to join in the celebrations.
It’s an experience money can’t buy and Hayward is full of self-belief leading into his first finals series, starting next Saturday against Essendon.
“He’s really good as a young fella at the club,” Hayward said.
“He gives me confidence to back myself in. He’s always there getting around me if I kick a goal and vice-versa.
“When he plays like he did it’s hard not to jump on the wagon and celebrate with him.
“You don’t get to run out onto the SCG and witness Buddy kick 10 every week. It was pretty special.
“He’s been huge along with everyone else in the forward group, including our line coach Brett Kirk. I learn something new every day.”
