Swans extend Hayward and Florent AFL deals

Sydney have secured contract extensions for two of their most promising AFL young guns, midfielder Oliver Florent and forward Will Hayward.

Both were already contracted for next season, but Hayward has signed for four extra years through to the end of 2024 and Florent for two more until the end of 2022.

Sydney’s top two picks in the 2016 national draft, 21-year-old Florent and 20-year-old Hayward have each played 53 games in their first three seasons.

Speedster Florent taken at pick 11 in 2016, played every game last year and missed just one in 2019 due to a hip flexor issue.

He averaged a career-high 19 disposals per match in 2019 and emerged as one of the best of the Swans young midfielders.

Goalsneak Hayward, the 21st pick in 2016, became the youngest player since teammate Lance Franklin to kick 50 AFL goals.

It was a stop-start season for Hayward, who missed three games early on with a fractured jaw and the last five after undergoing hip surgery.

He kicked 12.16 for the season and just 2.6 in the last five games when he seemed to be lacking in confidence.

“Will and Ollie are both outstanding young men and an important part of our young group,” Swans’ head of football Charlie Gardiner said.

“We see them as an integral part of the club’s next era of success.”

Out of contact Sydney midfielder Zak Jones has been linked with a move to a Victorian club, while rumours persist that the Swans are interested in Essendon key forward Joe Daniher.

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