Tributes to Lenny here - we will send him a SS tribute book

[bigcarl]

You've been an absolute warrior of St Kilda Football Club and no one deserved a premiership more than you. If you want to talk about heart and soul players in the club's history look no further.

Kicking a goal from outside 50 in the drawn GF was a monumental achievement, especially for someone who cannot kick 50 metres - or straight - at the best of times. It's a testament of your ability to rise to the occasion when the club demanded.

[Goose is king]

Dear Lenny

You opened my eyes to the "man crush"
Good luck with everything in your life.

[thefatdork]

Thanks Lenny,
A great carrier from a great player - but most of all a great man.
I tell my boys that they couldn't have a better example of courage, skill and fairness than you.
All the bast.
Fortius quo fidelius.

[Megamaguire]

Firstly just a real pleasant individual with a very together attitude.
Also, a guiding light and inspirational player for our club over the years. Enormous presence and skill regularly given to the cause.
Always a favourite player of mine since first following the Saints back in 1991. Rooey highlighted one attribute today in thanking Lenny for his incredible contribution to St.Kilda - An awesome team-man.
Lenny was (and still is) dependable, courageous, resilient, talented and without thinking about it probably able to regularly inspire both team-mates and supporters in just doing what he does.

G O O D L U C K L E N N Y

[saintbob]

THANKS LENNY, you were and always will be an absolute CHAMPION!!!

[Burkey 1]

Lenny, Congratulations on a wonderful career, you have given every inch of yourself to your club, your teammates, you are one of a few who are the heart & soul of St.Kilda, Lenny, Thank you so much for your loyalty to us, thanks so much for the memories and the sheer enjoyment we as supporters had watching you and finally Lenny, thank you for just being you from the first day you walked into our club, we have been well & truly blessed, we will miss you so much.

To St.kilda, you MUST move heaven & earth to keep Lenny at the club as an assistant coach or whatever , we cannot allow another one of our champions to leave like Harv's, not now, not when we are virtually on our knees.

Over to you Sainters.

[asaint]

It has been a joy and a privilege watching you play each week. Thankyou.

[Sainternist]

Thanks for all the hard work, loyalty and dedication you have put into representing club over the last decade and a half, Lenny.
When you were first drafted in November, 1998, I had a feeling you were going to be the real deal. You never lowered your colours or disappointed anyone. A class act all the way. We couldn't have asked for a better player to wear the number seven guernsey after Nicky Winmar.
Both attitude towards the game and great humility as a person have set a tremendous precedent for the new generation of players.

Forever in our hearts and never to be forgotten. All the best with life after footy, mate.

[saintkid]

In terms of sheer football excitement and freakish brillance it was Lockett for us but in terms of football inspiration, sustained brilliance and adulation it was Harves and Lenny. These two typified pure class and modesty both on and off the field to the highest degree possible. We can't separate both, which shows the level of esteem our household holds for Lenny.

A true champion player and equally champion human being is Lenny Hayes.

[Griggsy]

Thankyou for all your effort and heart, you stood up whenever the team required it. You will always be remembered as a club legend.

All the best with life after football.

[snoopygirl]

Lenny, you are the son any mother would be proud of & the player any club would want. Thank you for everything you have done for this club during your career as a player & hopefully in the future in a coaching role. You have been a joy to watch. Fortius Quo Fidelius.

[foxontherun]

Champion player
Champion person

[1433davids]

Just wishing Lenny Hayes all the best when his playing career ends. I can not help but admire the effort that he has put in to playing for the stkilda football club . He has never been the most skilled player on the list but he is certainly right up there if not # 1 when it comes to courage , endeavor , determination & hard work Well done Lenny Regards Dave.

[desertsaint]

An all time legend of the club. Much respect and admiration for how you played the game and how you lived your life!
All the best in all you do Lenny!

[thejiggingsaint]

I remember in 2011 when you were recovering from another knee reco, and had to sit and watch the games on level one, bay 19. I was doing my usual thing down at the front, attempting to rev up the crowd. I was walking up the aisle at 1/4 time and you stopped me to say " Love your work mate! " ME?! Have you ANY idea of how good that made me feel Mr. Hayes?! For someone who does what you do for the club, to compliment ME on my efforts, just made my day! A few games later, I was making my way to the gate at the MCG, when I was tapped on the shoulder, turning around I saw Lenny Hayes! We walked to the gate together just chatting. You relate to us all, and mate, THAT is why you're respected and loved.

[TJMcCarthy]

The biggest of all 'Hip hip hooray's' for Lenny Hayes!''

Such a proud feeling it is to watch you wearing our colours.

A distinguished career, full of brilliance resilience and hard ball tenacity.

We love you.

All the best Len

[MCG-Unit]

Thanks for all the wonderful memories and everything you have done for the footy club.
Hope you enjoy retirement, at least from playing. All the best to your family as well.

[robsaint]

A true AFL Champ on and off the field. We could always count on you giving your all for the club, your courage on the footy field is outstanding and the way you represent our club is admired by all. Thanks for the memories Lenny!

[Enrico_Misso]

We see you every day ...

We watched you over sixteen years
You always gave your all
Then it was time to go
Time to go away (time to go away)
Sometimes it's hard to realise
Just how great you were
It's not too late
It's not too late to say
.. too late to say

We'll always be together
However far it seems
We'll always be together
Together in twenty-ten dreams

Because the inspiration you gave
Has taught us to be brave
No matter where we go, we'll never find a better Saint
(Find a better Saint)
Though you're deeds are in the past
We see them every day 
We don't have to try
We just close our eyes
We close our eyes ….

We'll always be together
However far it seems
We'll always be together
Together in a Lenny Hayes dream

[Jacks Back]

Well done Lenny on a great career here at the Saints. You are a true champion player and person.

[stinger]

i was privileged to watch you play.

[SENsei]

Lenny,

I was at the pub on Friday night watching a bit of footy and talking a lot of you know what. I took a straw poll around the bar as to who these various supporters of other clubs admired from other clubs other than their own.

17 responses. 17 responses for Lenny Hayes. Universally admired for your football ability, your hard play at the ball and for being a damn good bloke. And so said all the bar!!

Congratulations on a magnificent career. It has been wonderful to watch you.

All the best for the next step in your journey.

[oh when the]

Lenny, you played by our motto Fortius Quo Fidelius... thanks.

[SemperFidelis]

We all love Lenny Hayes.

Well, we most certainly do in our family.

When our first child was due, my mother knitted a very small guernsey. She chose the number 7 for the back. She said she couldn't think of a better player for a kid's first guernsey.

That same child sat beside me tonight, now 8, counting your tackles, desperate for you to break the all-time-tackle record. Whilst we all know that that was only a small part of what you contributed to our club, it was nevertheless a pretty powerful symbol of the footballer that you have always been.

His younger brother also wore that very small guernsey. And years later, when he had the very great privilege of running through the banner with you in Round 22 this year, he insisted that he wear the number 7 on his guernsey.

And when you were carried off the ground tonight, we both cried.

"I don't want Lenny to stop", he said.

None of us ever wanted Lenny Hayes to stop.

Thank you for embodying everything anyone could ever want out of an AFL footballer. The fact that you were that for our great football club was simply the icing on the cake.

Congratulations on a fine career to one of our greatest ever Saints. We have no doubt that as one door closes, many others will be flung open.

Fortius quo fidelius.

[Megamaguire]

Congratulations on just about the perfect career Lenny. Your commitment and enthusiasm were something to witness. You brought us plenty of joy over the years and were a dependable and thrilling player to behold.
many of us feel very privilaged to have had yourself represent the red,white and black over the years.
Thankyou for your belief and positivity.

T h a n k y o u L e n n y