Bendigo Advertiser |
RETIRED St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes could join his former Saints team-mates Stephen Milne and Steven Baker at Strathfieldsaye next season.
Storm president Glenn Cowling confirmed on Thursday that Hayes had spoken to Milne and Baker about the prospect of playing with the BFNL premiers in 2015.
“Lenny has said over a few coffees with Milney and Baker that there’s a possibility he’d like to play six to eight games with us next year,’’ Cowling said.
“We’ve met Lenny, but we haven’t actually sat down and talked with him about signing.
“At this stage Stephen Milne and Steven Baker will both be playing for the Storm again and we’d like to think that if Lenny plays somewhere it would be with us.
"There's a long way to go yet."
Hayes, 34, retired from the AFL this year after playing 297 games with St Kilda
The Norm Smith Medal winner from the drawn 2010 AFL grand final, Hayes was at the QEO last Saturday to watch Milne and Baker help the Storm to win its first BFNL flag.
Milne kicked six goals in the grand final, his fifth goal was his 100th for the season.
Baker, who was one of the Storm's best in the grand final, played 10 home and away games plus the finals series.
The Storm could use Hayes in a similar fashion next year - eight home and away games, plus finals.
Cowling said Milne and Baker’s addition to the Storm this year had proved to be a success for Bendigo football.
“It would be great for the league as well as the Storm if Lenny decided to play in Bendigo,’’ Cowling said.
“Maybe it’s not fair that we could have three (former AFL players) playing for us, but it does bring people through the gates.
“When we played in Gisborne this year the club president said it was the best crowd they’ve had in five or six years.
“I’m sure Corey Jones playing at Golden Square attracted people through the gates as well.”
With the Storm’s premiership celebrations winding down, Cowling said the club would now turn its attention to re-signing its senior group.
“The indication from the players this week is that they all want to stay,’’ Cowling said.