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St Kilda's universally admired Lenny Hayes reaches a personal AFL milestone on Saturday, and coach Scott Watters is happy for his players to embrace it.
St Kilda coach Scott Watters isn't sure that AFL milestone games should mean anything to players in a team sport.
For star midfielder Lenny Hayes' 250th game - the Saints' clash with Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday - Watters is happy to make an exception.
"(Milestone games) almost in some ways go against what you're trying to build as a team, which is you should be playing at your maximum every week, and if you need those external motivators to get you up, then are you on the right path?" Watters said.
"But having said that, every player knows that this is Lenny's 250th.
"Throughout the week, if they've thought about that ... reflected on that to a degree, then that's a great thing."
In a business where heroes wear your team's colours and villains wear the opposition's, Hayes is one of very few universally admired - getting a thumbs-up from even the most grudging of non-St Kilda fans.
Now 32, Hayes' consistency and attack on the ball are applauded by all.
Everyone would want him on their team. No one is offended that he's not.
In 14 seasons, his form has wavered as often as his efforts through the midfield - seemingly never.
Few players have hit the ground running following a knee reconstruction like Hayes at the start of this season.
It was top form from his first game. So good has that form been he is in the top half dozen in Brownlow Medal betting.
Hayes, who grew up in Sydney adding symmetry to his milestone match against the Swans, said this week he was unsure how long he could keep playing.
Watters, who uses the words "champion" and "professional" in describing Hayes, has no doubt he could play another three seasons if he wanted to.
But as befitting his status at the club, Hayes will be one of those rare AFL players allowed to leave the game on their terms - whenever that may be.
"He could (play on), but there's two sides to that." Watters said.
"Mentally, whether you want to continue to get yourself up for the contest, and I see nothing in his preparation or desire to play that shows any signs of wavering.
"And physically, how the body holds up.
"We'll get to the end of the year and have a chat. If he wants to go on, then he'll be here at this club, there's no doubt about that."
The fourth-placed Swans will turn to import ruckman Mike Pyke to shoulder the burden against a makeshift Saints ruck combo of regular forward Justin Koschitzke and defender Jason Blake.
In a boost for the ninth-placed Saints, defender James Gwilt will play his first match of the season after recovering from a knee reconstruction.
