Nick Haynes has established himself as a crucial component to the backline of the GWS Giants.
But the Victorian’s path to the big time was anything but conventional.
“I quit footy when I was 13 for four years and then came back as a 17-year-old just for a bit of fun,” Haynes told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“I played a year of under 18s at Frankston Bombers and then senior footy the year after that and then got invited down to the (Dandenong) Stingrays as a 19-year-old.”
Before he was selected by the Giants with pick No.7 in the 2011 National Draft, Haynes was an apprentice electrician on a modest weekly wage.
It has made him appreciate the privileged position he now finds himself in.
“The footy club had a sparky apprenticeship open up and it really taught me how to maximise my money because I wasn’t on much,” Haynes said.
“I had to pay my mum for the car that she gave me, I had to get up early and then go to footy training after work.
“I was only on $7.20 an hour as a sparky. I was definitely appreciative when I got to an AFL club.”
Lifting the draft age to 19 is something a well-rounded Haynes strongly recommends as debate rages as to whether it should be raised.
“I thought when I got to the Giants it held me in good stead of moving out of home, looking after myself, paying the bills, saving my money, working hard and not taking things for granted,” he added.
“Personally, I always thought 19 should be the draft age.”
A big advocate of mental health, the 27-year-old is a ‘headspace’ ambassador and is taking part in the fourth edition of the ‘Push-Up Challenge’ that starts on May 11.
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“It’s a total of 3046 push-ups over 21 days,” Haynes said.
“The 3046 push-ups represents the amount of Australians that unfortunately committed suicide in 2018. It’s a great charity and a great opportunity to donate.”
Haynes, one of the competition’s best intercept defenders, has played 129 games for GWS and represented Victoria in the bushfire relief match in February.
CLICK HERE for more info on the Push-Up Challenge