Ex-Bulldogs midfielder Will Hayes was told earlier this month that he will not receive a new contract to stay at Whitten Oval.

The 26-year-old is the son of champion horse trainer David Hayes, and he envisages entering the racing industry with his family after football.

But while speaking toย RSN'sย The Breakfast Club on Wednesday,ย Hayes revealed that he has not quite given up on playing in the AFL next year.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Will Hayes of the Bulldogs and Liam Baker of the Tigers compete for the ball during the 2019 AFL round 07 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on May 04, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

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"I knew I was probably going to be de-listed the way things were tracking," he said.

"But at the minute, the process is very similar to if I had another contract in terms of keeping fit and making sure that if a contract comes my way I'm ready to take it."

When quizzed byย The Breakfast Club if any interest from other clubs, or even a contract, was in store, Hayes said that there's "still a bit of water to go under the bridge with the draft and I'll know more in the coming weeks."

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Hayes was drafted through the Bulldogs' VFL pathway as a mature age rookie in 2018. He made his debut in 2019, before playing 11 games across three seasons, although none of them were in 2021.

Playing as a midfielder in the competition's best engine room by way of depth was never favourable, as Hayes acknowledged.

"The stronger the depth of players, the harder it is to get a game," he said.

Although, heading back into the racing industry full time would not be a foreign concept for Hayes, who assists his family already as a stable foreman.

"I'm hoping that the dream isn't done yet and a pre-season does come my way, but I'm fortunate to have a great industry to go into afterwards. And that's racing. So, I see it as a win-win," he said.

"I've been around the stables since I was a little fella so that makes it second nature."

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