Key defender Lewis Hayes has signed a new two-year deal to remain a Bomber until at least the end of 2026.

The 19-year-old’s fresh signature comes a week after teammates Jye Menzie and Vigo Visentini each committed to the club for next season, continuing the promising news for Essendon’s emerging young talent.

Showing signs of his long-term potential as a key defender through two consistent VFL seasons to date, Hayes is excited by the opportunity to keep working his way up in a developing Dons defensive group over the next two years.

“There are great opportunities on the horizon for this footy club and I’m super excited to be a part of it for the next two years,” Hayes said.

“Under Brad (Scott) and the wider football staff, the club has been such an enjoyable space for me to grow as a player and person and work hard to keep going after my dream of a debut and establishing myself as an AFL player.

“Working closely with our development coaches has been massive for me so far, particularly in the case of ‘Hurls’ (Michael Hurley) who’s really put his arm around me and helped build my defensive capability in the last couple of seasons.

“I just want to keep working hard. We’re setting solid foundations for our future and I’m keen to see what I can achieve over the next couple of years.” 

Since being taken with pick No.25 in the 2022 National Draft, Hayes has grown into a dependable operator in the back half and showcased his talent via the VFL, where he’s yet to miss a game in his time with the club.

Across those 32 games and with a couple of pre-seasons under his belt, the 199cm defender has been equipping himself to handle a variety of opponents, developing the strength to take on experienced key forwards and possessing the poise to withstand the pressure of opposition smalls.

In addition to his defensive improvement, Hayes has shown his ability to win the footy and generate transition from the last line. On four occasions this year, he’s registered over 20 disposals in a game and is currently averaging nearly six marks per game in the heart of defence.

GM – AFL Daniel McPherson is keen to see the progression in Hayes’ game over the coming seasons.

“Hayesy has shown great commitment and dedication to continuous improvement over his first two years at Essendon and he is moulding himself into a strong defender,” McPherson said.

“He’s produced a consistent block of strong performances at VFL level and we’re confident he will continue to develop his game in the remaining weeks of this season. We’re really excited about where Hayesy can take his game in the next couple of years with another strong pre-season of learning and development under his belt.”