""It is nice to get this recognition but in the scheme of things it won’t count for much if I don’t play well now I have the chance,"" Haynes said.
Haynes played his junior football with Melton South before playing under 18 football with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup. Haynes played in the 1999 Essendon VFL premiership as an under-18 top-up player but missed out on the National Draft. Richmond selected Haynes in the 1999 rookie draft and he was promoted to the Tigers’ senior list the following season. Haynes played five games with Richmond in 2000 / 2001.
Haynes refused to let go of his AFL ambitions after being de-listed by Richmond. He nominated for the rookie draft and he ended up at Windy Hill as a rookie. Haynes played a Wizard Cup game for Essendon against the Kangaroos at Manuka Oval and played well. But things went horribly wrong the following week in a practice match against St Kilda at Optus Oval.
Haynes dislocated his shoulder in that match and was sidelined for 17 weeks. But upon his return, he has played some very good football in the Essendon VFL side. Last weekend he collected 37 possessions and kicked three goals to ensure he was promoted. The vacancy on Essendon’s senior list was created when Jordan Bannister broke his collarbone recently.
While Haynes’ inclusion was the big news at Windy Hill, it only just overshadowed the return of Essendon captain James Hird. Hird missed last weekend’s game with a tight hamstring. Andrew Welsh will miss with a shoulder injury while Paul Barnard has again been dropped.
The Essendon team is:
Backs: Jacobs Fletcher Wellman
Half Backs: Peverill Bolton McVeigh
Centres: Ramanauskas Misiti M. Johnson
Half Forwards: Mercuri Lucas Rioli
Forwards: Solomon Lloyd Haynes
Rucks: Hille Hird J. Johnson
Bench: Alessio McPhee Cupido Bullen
Emergencies: McGrath Henneman Richards
