St Kilda is reportedly set to add dominant Woodville-West Torrens key forward Jack Hayes to its senior list for the 2022 AFL season.
In late January, news circled that the Saints were likely to snag the SANFL star. Now, it's set to become official.
According to theย Herald Sun's Jon Ralph, the 24-year-old will be added to the Saints list as a ruck-forward.
St Kilda currently has two vacant list spots, with Hayes slated to occupy one of them.
The 194cm utility's coach at Woodville-West, Jade Sheedy, told theย News Corpย on Thursday that Hayes plays above his height and deserves an opportunity at AFL level.
"He plays as a forward-ruck for us and he's only 194cm but he does have a huge heart. His ability to throw himself at every contest and will himself at every ball separates him from the rest in our competition," Sheedy began.
"The knock on him about why he hasn't got drafted is he is too small but you can't measure someone's heart and he has long arms and stretches out long at the footy and jumps well and takes the ball at its highest point. He plays above his height."
The Magarey medallist also delineated that those in South Australia remained gobsmacked that it had taken until now for Hayes to earn an opportunity under brighter lights.
"People in SANFL circles can't believe he hasn't been given a chance at AFL level," Sheedy continued.
"That is universal, not just from our footy club, so I hope he gets an opportunity and it's one that would be well and truly deserved.
"What he has done in our competition is pretty significant. He was second in the Magarey Medal and it's pretty rare for someone who plays up forward, the Magarey has always been a midfield award like the Brownlow so he's pretty dominant."
Hayes booted 22 goals from 20 games and averaged an impressive 19.6 disposals per contest in 2021, helping lead Woodville-West to its second consecutive SANFL premiership.
The strong-marking key position prospect is likely to compete with the likes of Cooper Sharman and Josh Battle for a spot in a St Kilda forward-line that also includes up-and-coming star Max King, veteran Tim Membrey and ruck-forward Rowan Marshall.
