Hayes has heart surgery

Updated September 08, 2012 20:23:02

St Kilda has announced that star Lenny Hayes has had surgery to correct a heart condition diagnosed at the start of the season.

Hayes, who played all 22 rounds for the year - including his 250th AFL game in round nine against Sydney - completed his season a week ago in the Saints' win over Carlton.

"Lenny's condition was successfully corrected during surgery in Melbourne last week and he is expected to make a full recovery ahead of pre-season training commencing in November", St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said in a statement.

The club said Hayes would complete a prescribed rehabilitation period that allows him to return to preseason training and continue to play for the Saints in 2013.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted September 08, 2012 20:23:02

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Honest Hayes weighing up retirement

Updated May 23, 2012 18:37:33

Much-loved St Kilda veteran Lenny Hayes says this could be his last AFL season, but he has not given up on a farewell premiership.

Hayes, 32, who has made a strong comeback from a knee reconstruction this season, will play his 250th match in Saturday's clash with Sydney at Docklands.

While the courageous midfielder said he still loved playing and ideally would continue next year, he was wary of going on too long.

"It's always a hard one. I suppose when you get to my age, I could be another serious injury away from retirement. I'm not taking anything for granted," Hayes told reporters on Wednesday.

"At the moment, I am pretty much a week-to-week proposition.

"As long as I can keep stringing games together and the body holds up, my mind's still really keen and loving it.

"Who knows? I haven't looked too far ahead. It's just get through this year. Hopefully we can have some success and then weigh it up."

A member of losing grand-final sides in 2009 and 2010, Hayes was desperately close to being a premiership hero when he won the Norm Smith Medal in the 2010 drawn grand final against Collingwood.

While the Saints (4-4) are outside the top eight, Hayes believes they can win this year's flag.

"I probably wouldn't be playing if I didn't think we were still a chance to make that final weekend," he said.

"I don't tend to reflect back too much, but I still have a lot of faith in this team and where we're going.

"I think we've added a bit this year - we've still got that core group of players ... it's a pretty open year."

He expects the clash with the Swans, fresh from their 101-point win over Melbourne, to be a good test of St Kilda's credentials.

The battle of second-string ruckmen could be pivotal.

The Swans used Mike Pyke as their main ruckman in his first game of the season against the Demons, in the continued absence of Shane Mumford.

The Saints are without preferred options Ben McEvoy and Rhys Stanley, meaning Justin Koschitzke is likely to do much of the ruckwork.

That could hamper a St Kilda attack which started the year including Koschitzke and Stanley both backing Nick Riewoldt, although Hayes said Koschitzke could fill both roles.

"Kosi might play ruck then head up forward and hopefully kick some goals for us," he said.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, st-kilda-3182, vic, australia

First posted May 23, 2012 18:37:33

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Good signs for Hayes after trial game

Updated February 10, 2012 18:45:30

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says Lenny Hayes is on track to play in the preseason cup after recovering from a knee injury which restricted the ex-skipper to just two games last AFL season.

On-baller Hayes played the first three quarters of an intra-club trial game at St Kilda's Seaford training base on Friday.

The 32-year-old ran laps of the oval during the last quarter with other key players including goal sneak Stephen Milne and captain Nick Riewoldt.

Watters says Hayes is having an excellent preseason.

"He's very keen to play. We've just got to hold him back a little bit at the moment," Watters said.

"He's going well. It has been a really solid preparation for him and he has got a lot of confidence out of it.

"He'll play some of it (preseason cup). He won't play all of it.

"We've got to prepare him for round one and hopefully to play early in the season so it will be the right preparation to get him ready for round one."

Horsham Demons teenager Seb Ross was handed the big task of tagging dual All-Australian Brendon Goddard in midfield.

"He kicked a good goal at the end, Seb. I thought Seb was really solid," Watters said.

"He's a really mature young kid. He has already probably got a body that can handle AFL football.

"He's really composed in a contest. He did his selection chances no harm at all today."

Watters said he was impressed with mature-aged recruits Ahmed Saad, 22, and Terry Milera, 24.

"Both of them were good. Beau Wilkes (a 25-year-old who has played 23 games with West Coast) was really solid down back," Watters said.

The 194cm Wilkes can play at either end but, at this stage, he is being primed for the backline, Watters said.

While the first-year coach said he was happy his squad avoided any major injuries on Friday, one concern was utility Nicholas Winmar who left the field with suspected mild concussion.

"We got through healthy. That's probably the most pleasing thing," Watters said.

"It was a good solid hit-out."

Watters said he was almost certain Winmar did not suffer a facial injury.

"He's dazed - maybe mild concussion," Watters said.

The Saints play Geelong and Sydney in the first round of the preseason cup on February 24 at Docklands.

St Kilda travel to Football Park to take on Port Adelaide in round one of the AFL season on April 1.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, st-kilda-3182, vic

First posted February 10, 2012 17:14:58

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