Hayden McLean

Hayden McLean (born 20 January 1999) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Sydney in the Australian Football League (AFL). A 1.97-metre tall who can play as a ruckman or key forward, McLean began his career in the TAC Cup before a season in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was recruited by Sydney on the eve of the 2019 season as a pre-season supplemental selection, and made his AFL debut later that year.

Hayden McLean
McLean in 2019 playing for Sydney in the NEAFL
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-01-20) 20 January 1999
Original team(s) Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup)
Draft Pre-season supplemental selection, 2019
Debut Round 18, 2019, Sydney
vs. Fremantle, at Optus Stadium
Height 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Position(s) Ruckman/key forward
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 41
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019– Sydney 6 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2019 season.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Junior career

McLean attended St. Bede’s College in Mentone. He played junior football for the Beaumaris Sharks[1] before joining the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup.[2] He also was a member of the AFL Academy – spending time at the Sydney Swans as part of the development program[3] – and represented Vic Metro at the AFL Under 18 Championships. In 2017, McLean became Sandringham's captain and Vic Metro's vice-captain, but was overlooked in the 2017 AFL draft.[2][3]

He began playing in the VFL for the Sandringham Zebras, who were affiliated with AFL club St Kilda. McLean played 13 matches in 2018, averaging 5.2 marks, 10.3 hit-outs and 13.2 disposals[4] and rucking against AFL-listed players including Matthew Leuenberger, Braydon Preuss and Zac Smith. He was also named the club's best first-year player for 2018.[2] McLean trained with St Kilda in November, hoping to be selected in the 2018 AFL draft,[5] and was named by Fox Sports, which considered him similar to Adelaide ruck/forward Josh Jenkins, as a likely mature-age recruit.[6] However, he was again overlooked and moved to Adelaide to play with South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club South Adelaide in 2019.[2]

AFL career

McLean was recruited by Sydney in March 2019 as a pre-season supplemental selection to cover the loss of defender Jack Maibaum to a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.[4] His recruitment also increased the club's depth of tall players after Kurt Tippett's retirement.[2] McLean's selection was criticised by SANFL officials, as it deprived South Adelaide of an important recruit only a fortnight before their 2019 season began, leaving them unable to find a replacement in time.[7] McLean spent most of his first season in Sydney's North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) side, before a call-up to the AFL team in round 18 – a challenging match-up rucking alongside Robbie Fox against Fremantle veteran Aaron Sandilands.[8] He played three more matches to finish the season and extended his contract with Sydney to 2020.[9]

References
  1. Gates, Zachary (15 March 2019). "McLean thrilled as Swans surprise". sydneyswans.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  2. Cleary, Mitch (12 March 2019). "Swans fill final list spot with South Australian big man". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  3. Ryan, Peter (12 March 2019). "Sydney Swans add South Adelaide's Hayden McLean via rookie list". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  4. Balmer, Matt (12 March 2019). "Sydney add tall Hayden McLean to playing list". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  5. Navaratnam, Dinny (5 November 2018). "Saints put state league pair on trial as 2018 draft looms". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  6. Olle, Sarah (13 November 2018). "AFL draft 2018: Mature-age VFL stars AFL clubs should consider at national and rookie drafts". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  7. Sutton, Malcolm (25 March 2019). "AFL injuries bode poorly for state leagues with mid-season draft looming". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  8. Rugari, Vince (19 July 2019). "Swans back rookie ruck to handle the AFL's biggest challenge". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  9. "Swans re-sign five, including former US college basketballer". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
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