Nick Hayes, the most experienced state league player in the VFL has called it a day after 64 games and four seasons with the club.

At 30-years-old, Hayes was Werribee’s oldest player this season, following the departures of veteran teammates Tom Gribble, Michael Sodomaco, Josh Porter and Matt Hanson at the end of 2023. In his final season, the versatile forward played 18 games in Werribee’s premiership-winning campaign, with his 2024 season also seeing him reach the milestone of 200 state league games, an achievement the club honoured at their best-and-fairest night.

Reflecting on his time with the club, Hayes shared, “It’s been a great experience playing at Werribee, and I’ve made some friends for life.”

Speaking about ending his tenure with a Grand Final win, he added, “The premiership is a day I’ll never forget, and the best possible way to finish my time at the club.”

Hayes called time on his Werribee career after his fourth season with the club in what was his twelfth season of state league football. The forward made the switch to Werribee from South Australian club Woodville West Torrens ahead of the 2021 VFL season, fresh from a 2020 SANFL flag. Prior to his six seasons with Woodville, Hayes was originally drafted to Brisbane in the 2013 rookie draft, and spent two seasons with the Lions, where he won the reserves best-and-fairest in his second season up north. During his time at Brisbane, Hayes also won a NEAFL premiership, adding the 2024 VFL title as his third state league premiership across three different competitions.

When joining Werribee in 2021, Hayes noted that the club's values made Werribee a perfect fit for him. "They had a lot of similar values to what I was playing over in Adelaide at Woodville – a standalone club, a real community and team atmosphere, which is exactly what I was looking for here." Although his first season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hayes made an immediate impact, kicking 10 goals and averaging 15 disposals and six marks per game in his nine matches.

Hayes enjoyed another consistent season in 2022, averaging 15 disposals, more than six marks, and a goal per game, earning him his first top-ten finish in Werribee's best-and-fairest as well as the Coaches Award.

Off the back of his strong 2022 campaign, Hayes was inducted into the leadership group for the first time in 2023, a position he held for his last two seasons at the club. In the 2023 season he played all 21 games, kicking 21 goals, including a career-high four goals against North Melbourne late in the season. Two of his most pivotal goals of the season came in the preliminary final against Brisbane. He kicked two crucial majors, including a miracle goal from the pocket, to help Werribee make the Grand Final.

Hayes kicked off the 2024 season in strong form, building on his impressive finish to 2023. After playing forward and kicking a goal in Werribee’s Round 1 win over Geelong, he once again proved his versatility, delivering one of the standout performances of his Werribee career in defence during the Round 2 clash with Southport. Hayes collected 28 disposals, 11 marks, and nine intercept possessions in a three-point victory. The forward was then selected to represent Victoria in the state league clash against his old league, the SANFL, as the Big V returned to state of origin footy.

In the following weeks after returning to Werribee, Hayes kicked three goals in a half against GWS and celebrated his 50th game with the club, before playing his 200th state league game against North Melbourne in round nine.

Midway through the season Hayes transitioned from forward to a wingman, and went on to play every game for the remainder of the season. For the second consecutive season, Hayes stepped up in the preliminary final against his former side, Brisbane, with a Grand Final berth on the line. The 30-year-old veteran was named among the best players, finishing with 17 disposals, six marks, seven intercepts, and his first goal since Round 15 in the 20-point win.

As Werribee broke a 31-year premiership drought the following week in Hayes’ final game, he reflected on the triumph post-match, saying, “I’m absolutely ecstatic. Obviously, 12 months ago it was the opposite result, so it’s just an unbelievable feeling.”