St Kilda have been rocked by the news Jack Hayes is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected ACL in the 17-point win over Greater Western Sydney.
The Saints are all of a sudden contenders to win the 2022 AFL grand final after making an impressive start to the season. However the injury to Hayes took the shine off Friday night’s win.
New contract
The 26-year-old had to be taken out of the game at quarter-time after suffering the injury and speaking after the game coach Brett Ratten says they will move quickly to put his mind at ease.
St Kilda do not want him to have any worries as he attacks his rehab and will offer him a contract extension to cover him while he recovers.
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"We'll have a conversation with him ASAP," Ratten said in his post-match press conference.
"We want to take away any of the anxiousness and allow him to go into this ACL rehab process knowing what the future looks like. He doesn’t have to worry about that, he can just get to work and do what he does. We'll look after him and talk to him about that."
Mixed emotions
Ratten was delighted to get the win which takes St Kilda to second place on the ladder. But there were mixed emotions after the injury to Hayes.
"(It is) probably mixed emotions. We came to Canberra to win the game and get the four points. I thought our second half was very, very encouraging,” he added.
“When you have someone like Jack Hayes – what a great person – what he has done in a short term out our footy club, for him to do an ACL, I think the mood is a little bit up and down.”
