Australian Football

Renowned for his versatility and dependability, John Hayes, who originally hailed from Ireland, was a regular Western Australian interstate representative for much of his 16-season, 283-game League career. Having been converted from soccer whilst attending De La Salle College near Perth, Hayes joined East Perth in 1969 and soon made a name for himself as a hard-running utility player. In 1972 he made his interstate debut at the Perth carnival, and later that year he was a member of the Royals' victorious Grand Final side. 

After spending the 1975 season with West Adelaide, where he played 11 league games, Hayes returned to the west in 1976 and joined Claremont. Over the next couple of seasons he added a further 39 League games to his total before returning 'home' to East Perth in 1978, just in time to participate in that club's heart-stopping Grand Final victory over Perth (a full review of which can be found by clicking here).

Between 1978 and 1982 John Hayes was a stalwart member of an East Perth side which he captained during his final two seasons. With his games total for the Royals just one shy of 200 he made a final move in 1983 to South Fremantle, where he added a further 33 games over his remaining couple of league seasons.

Equally adept in a key position or in a running role, the 185cm, 77kg Hayes was a team player par excellence; seldom spectacular, almost always effective, he was a genuine unsung hero of Western Australian football for well over a decade.

Author - John Devaney