For Adelaide SANFL player Hugh Haysman, notching 100 games is the product of hard work and persistence.

Haysman, who signed as one of Adelaide’s development players last season, will line up in his 100th League game when the Crows play North Adelaide this Saturday.

Across the journey, Haysman has enjoyed ultimate success, winning a Premiership with West Adelaide during his League debut year in 2015.

He has, however, also experienced some tough times on field with the Bloods and spent the 2022 season playing in the amateur league to help him rediscover his love of the game.

Since returning to the SANFL fold, Haysman has made the most of his opportunities.

He told AFC Media everything he’s gone through makes the milestone even more special.

“When you start playing footy, particularly at a SANFL level, I don’t think a number of games is part of the goal,” Haysman said.

“It’s just to get the most out of your body and contribute to a team and try to achieve some team success.

“100 games to me feels like a little reward for sticking around and putting in the hard yards and ultimately to still be playing and being in a group where we are still keen to play finals footy is why you do it.

“Taking some time off from the SANFL off the back of Covid and a whole host of other things, then coming back into the Adelaide Crows program has been heaps of fun.”

Haysman, who was 18 when he helped West Adelaide to their first SANFL Premiership in 32 years, said he was a much more rounded footballer now.

And at 27-years-old he was enjoying helping the younger players at the Crows develop.

“I spent my first few years with West Adelaide and I had a lot of older boys around me,” Haysman said.

“Being able to carry on what I learnt back then to what I am doing now at the Crows and getting around some of our younger players is rewarding.

“We have great teammates and great coaches around us at the moment and while we haven’t had the year we probably wanted, I still think we’ve shown glimpses of what we can do.

“We just try to play to our system and celebrate the little things along the way.”

Haysman said lining up in the SANFL finals series last season with the Crows was his favourite moments in the tri colours so far.

“We got close-ish last year at the Crows, which was exciting,” Haysman said.

“That’s probably one of my favourite memories so far here and also playing with lots of different players from the AFL squads.

“Last year there were some young players who came through the SANFL and now seeing them debut in the AFL is pretty cool.

“Equally being such a competitive AFL side you get to play alongside more experienced players as well.”

The Crows will look to return to the winners’ list when they play the Roosters at Prospect Oval this Saturday at 2.10pm.