The GIANTS would like to thank inaugural GIANT Nick Haynes for his contribution to the club across the past 13 seasons. 

The GIANTS will bid farewell to Haynes, with the 32-year-old defender to play elsewhere next season in search of more senior opportunities.

An integral piece of the club since its inception, Haynes joined the GIANTS via pick seven in the 2011 AFL Draft and went on to play 211 games in a brilliant career in orange and charcoal.

Haynes made eight AFL appearances for the GIANTS this season.

One of the competition’s best intercept defenders at the peak of his powers, Haynes was named in the 2019 All-Australian squad before making the final All-Australian team in 2020 as well as taking out the 2020 Kevin Sheedy Medal as club champion alongside Lachie Whitfield.

A part of the GIANTS’ leadership group in 2021, Haynes played a crucial role in many of the GIANTS’ finals campaigns and in 2023 became just the third GIANT drafted by the club to reach the 200-game milestone.

GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney thanked Haynes for his services to the club.

“We want to thank Nick for his 13 seasons at the club and he leaves with our best wishes as he looks to seek more AFL opportunities,” McCartney said.

“As an inaugural player and life member of the club, we’ve watched him grow into the player, person and now father that he is today.

“We thank him for being a valuable member of our club for such a long time and we wish him and his family nothing but the best.”