Hard work and steady improvement saw him play in the 2016 VFL premiership team and then in 2018 he won his club's best and fairest.
[1] He made his senior debut against Carlton[2] in round 5 of the 2019 season.
After 11 games in 3 years Hayes was delisted at the conclusion of the 2021 AFL season.
[4] He graduated from Melbourne Grammar School in 2013 alongside close friend and fellow footballer Zach Merrett.
[6] Hayes studied a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University,[7] and now works at Flemington Racecourse.