Hayden Skipworth

Personal information
Birth	25 February 1983 (1983-02-25) (age 26)
Recruited from	Woodville-West Torrens Eagles (SANFL)
Height and weight	177 cm / 75 kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 1, 1 April 2001, Adelaide vs. Sydney Swans, at Sydney Cricket Ground
Team(s)	Adelaide (2001-06) 44 games, 22 goals Essendon (2009) 8 games, 9 goals
¹ Statistics to end of Round 13, 2009 season
Career highlights
Jack Oatey Medal (SANFL) 2006

Hayden Skipworth (born 25 February 1983) was an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club of the Australian Football League. After playing 44 games over six years for the Adelaide Crows he was delisted in 2006. He then played in the Victorian Football League with Bendigo Bombers during 2007 and 2008 and was drafted by Essendon in the 2008 Pre-season Draft.

Originally from the Yorke Peninsula (Arthurton) and played with the Central Yorke (CY) Cougars.

The midfielder-small forward was drafted 53rd overall by the Crows from the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles in the SANFL in the 2000 AFL Draft. He made his AFL debut in round 1 of the 2001 season against the Sydney Swans at the SCG, before playing another 4 matches that year (total 5) and scoring 1 goal. Was de-listed at the end of the 2002 season after failing to add to his overall matches tally, before being picked up by the Crows again for the 2003 season via the rookie draft (pick number 13 overall). Skipworth was elevated to the senior list again midway through that season after WWTFC and Crows team-mate Andrew Crowell sustained a serious knee injury and was placed on the club's long-term injury list.

Skipworth had his best AFL season in 2005, in which he played 21 matches, including 3 finals matches (against St Kilda, Port Adelaide and West Coast) and scored 12 goals. His stand-out performance of the 2005 season came in Round 6 against the Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium, when he kicked 4 goals (including 3 within the space of 5 minutes in the second quarter and finally the victory-sealing goal late in the final quarter) and had 20 possessions in a match-winning effort. At the Brownlow Medal count later that year he received 3 votes for a best-on-ground performance, taking his career tally to 6 votes overall (previously Skipworth received 3 votes in Round 18 of the 2004 season, also against the Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium).

Skipworth spent most of the 2006 season with the SANFL side Woodville-West Torrens. He was the recipient of the Jack Oatey Medal as the best player in the SANFL Grand Final. He was later de-listed by the Crows at the end of the season whilst on holiday in the United States.

During his time at the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles, Skipworth was involved in a premiership team across all grades (Under-17, -19, Reserves and finally League). He was selected to join the AIS Academy in 2000, also representing Australia at Under-18's level in an International Rules Series that year. Was named in the 2003 The Advertiser SANFL team of the year. Also a talented basketball player, making State Under-18 level before deciding to pursue football. Took part in a celebrity basketball match in early 2005, along with radio station Mix-102.3's Kym Dillon and Ali Carle, along with McLeod's Daughters star Michala Banas, among others. Central Yorke Cougars' Number One Ticket-holder.

APRIL 2007: Ruptured the patella tendon in his knee after landing awkwardly after a marking contest during the first quarter of the Bendigo Bombers' loss to Port Melbourne at TEAC Oval. Recovery time at least 12 to 16 weeks and possibly up to six months. Had been named in the Bombers' best players in both matches he had played so far, after missing the first round with an ankle injury.

On the 16h of December 2008 he was picked by Essendon in the pre-season draft. There was much criticism following his recruitment to Essendon, however his debut so far has been consistent.

14th of October 2009: After adding only 11 games in his first year with his new club, Essendon, Skipworth announced his retirement. He has sighted constant injuries as the reason.

[1]

[edit] External links

• Hayden Skipworth profile on the Official AFL Website of the Adelaide Football Club
• Hayden Skipworth's statistics from AFL Tables