SKIPWORTH, Hayden

Adelaide Crows surprised many when they delisted Hayden Skipworth at the end of 2006 after six seasons and 44 games. He found his way to Bendigo Bombers and impressed Bendigo coach Matthew Knights. He won their Best and Fairest award in 2008.

Essendon drafted Skipworth at the beginning of 2009 and he made his debut in Round 1 against Port Adelaide finishing the game with a career high 30 disposals and finishing the season with 11 games. He played his 50th game against his old club, Adelaide, in Round 11.

In October 2009 Skipworth announced his retirement from League football citing the inability of his body to continue to endure the rigours of the game at this level. He played at Aberfeldie in 2011 with former team-mate, Damien Peverill.

Skipworth was a hard working player who could play forward or back. He was an All-Australian junior player.

He was appointed to a full-time position in the Jack Jones Development Academy in 2010 then became coach of Bendigo Gold in 2012. He was appointed coach of Essendon's VFL affiliate club, Bendigo Bombers, in 2013, a position he held until 2016. He was Essendon's forward coach the following year and midfield coach in 2018 and 2019. He held similar positions at Collingwood from 2020.