Will Hayward

William O. A. Hayward (born 26 October 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Sydney Swans
He was drafted by Sydney with their second selection and twenty-first overall, a priority draft pick, in the 2016 national draft. He made his debut against the in the twenty-three point loss against the  at Etihad Stadium in round 2, 2017.

Hayward received the AFL Rising Star nomination for round 23 after kicking three goals in the Swans' 81-point win over at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

After a great start to the 2024 season and coming out of contract, there was a lot of speculation about what he would do next. In June 2024, he signed a 5 year extension.

Statistics
Updated to the end of the 2022 season.

! colspan=3| Career ! 114 !! 134 !! 87 !! 787 !! 457 !! 1244 !! 431 !! 321 !! 1.1 !! 0.7 !! 6.9 !! 4.0 !! 10.9 !! 3.7 !! 2.8 !! 2
 * 2017 || || 9
 * 17 || 22 || 13 || 106 || 47 || 153 || 50 || 44 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 6.2 || 2.8 || 9.0 || 2.9 || 2.6 || 0
 * 2018 || || 9
 * 23 || 28 || 18 || 173 || 101 || 274 || 91 || 71 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 7.5 || 4.4 || 11.9 || 4.0 || 3.1 || 0
 * 2019 || || 9
 * 13 || 12 || 16 || 89 || 58 || 147 || 43 || 35 || 0.9 || 1.2 || 6.8 || 4.5 || 11.3 || 3.3 || 2.7 || 0
 * 2020 || || 9
 * 16 || 10 || 3 || 87 || 74 || 161 || 54 || 37 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 5.4 || 4.6 || 10.1 || 3.4 || 2.3 || 0
 * 2021 || || 9
 * 20 || 28 || 15 || 134 || 74 || 208 || 81 || 60 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 6.7 || 3.7 || 10.4 || 4.1 || 3.0 || 2
 * 2022 || || 9
 * 25 || 34 || 22 || 198 || 103 || 301 || 112 || 74 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 7.9 || 4.1 || 12.0 || 4.4 || 2.9 || 0
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * 2021 || || 9
 * 20 || 28 || 15 || 134 || 74 || 208 || 81 || 60 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 6.7 || 3.7 || 10.4 || 4.1 || 3.0 || 2
 * 2022 || || 9
 * 25 || 34 || 22 || 198 || 103 || 301 || 112 || 74 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 7.9 || 4.1 || 12.0 || 4.4 || 2.9 || 0
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * }

Honours and achievements
Individual
 * AFL Rising Star nominee: 2017 (round 23)

Personal life
Hayward was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide, starting in grade three in 2007 and completing his final year in 2016.

He played his junior football for Walkerville Junior Football Club in Adelaide’s inner east, as well as for his school.