Hayden Skipworth

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**Hayden Skipworth**
Personal information

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

Hayden Skipworth (born February 25, 1983) is an Australian rules footballer with the Bendigo Bombers of the Victorian Football League. Joined Bendigo during the 2007 pre-season after being overlooked in both the NAB AFL Draft and the Pre-Season Draft, hoping to play well during the 2007 season in an attempt to resurrect his AFL career.

He has formerly played with the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League.

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. 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.

Hayden's father Travis was a fine player himself with the Arthurton Football Club. He played in the 1982 Premiership win over Maitland and was one of the best players on Grand Final day. It was Arthurton's first Premiership since 1955 when they won 17.12 (114) to 11.15 (81). Travis later took on coaching Arthurton and was successful in 1986 with a Grand Final win over Paskeville. Arthurton finished third in 1987 and sadly Travis was sacked from the position. He went on to coach Kadina and later on coached the CY Cougars for several seasons.

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