Roger Hayden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roger Hayden |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Roger Hayden | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1980 | ||
| Original team | South Fremantle (WAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 21, 2001 Rookie Draft, Fremantle (RP), 2002 AFL Draft, Fremantle |
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| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Roger Hayden (born December 9, 1980) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played as a defender, specifically in the back pocket position, for the Fremantle Football Club. Before joining the top-level AFL, he started his senior football career with the South Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).
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Roger Hayden's AFL Journey with Fremantle
Roger Hayden joined the Fremantle Dockers through the 2000 Rookie Draft. He spent his first year, 2001, playing for South Fremantle, mostly as a midfielder.
Making His Mark: AFL Debut
Roger got his chance to play in the AFL when a teammate, Anthony Jones, got injured. This meant Roger was moved from the rookie list to the main team. Roger played his first AFL game in 2002 against the Kangaroos. In his very next game, he had to play against a tough opponent, Phil Matera. Roger did an amazing job, limiting Matera to just one goal. This impressive performance helped him earn a permanent spot on Fremantle's senior team.
Becoming a Key Defender
In 2003, Roger became a key part of Fremantle's defence. This group of defenders was sometimes called the No Name defence. They helped Fremantle reach the finals for the very first time in the club's history. Roger played in 21 out of 23 games that season.
In one special game in 2003, Roger was one of seven Indigenous players representing Fremantle. This was the most Indigenous players ever to play for a single AFL team in one game. The other Indigenous players that day were Troy Cook, Jeff Farmer, Antoni Grover, Des Headland, Steven Koops, and Dion Woods.
Overcoming Challenges and Injuries
Roger continued to play well in 2004, but he broke his leg late in the season. This injury meant he had to work very hard to recover. He missed the start of the 2005 season and then had another hamstring injury. Even though he couldn't get back into the Fremantle team right away, he played for South Fremantle and helped them win their 2005 Premiership.
He returned to the Fremantle lineup in 2006. After some strong performances in the WAFL, he rejoined the AFL team for the rest of that season.
His Best Season and Retirement
The 2007 AFL Season was Roger Hayden's best. He played in all 22 games and was even considered for the All-Australian team, which honours the best players in the league.
On August 31, 2011, Roger Hayden announced he was retiring from playing professional football. He was 30 years old, and a long-term foot injury led to his decision. Since 2012, Roger has stayed involved in football as a development coach at Fremantle.
