ACROSS Lenny Hayes' 281-game AFL career he’s played with and against his fair share of quality midfielders.

So when the 34-year-old passes judgement on a youngster, his opinion generally carries a fair amount of weight.

Comparatively, Tom Curren has played just 12 games of AFL football after his debut against Port Adelaide last year.

Unlike many young up-and-comers who take a while to find their feet at the highest level, Curren looked immediately at home in the red, white and black and hasn’t missed a game since his debut.

“He won a fair bit of the ball in his own right last year, so to go and have the discipline to do that tagging role for the team this year has been fantastic,” Hayes told ABC Radio on Sunday.

“He could be in the top three in the best and fairest with some of the jobs he’s done this year and the way he’s gone about it. He’s been a real barometer for the team. When he knuckles down we seem to play well.”

However Curren’s ascension to the number one tagging role was no easy ride. He was a rookie for almost three seasons before he was upgraded to the senior list, and since then he has played on some of the AFL’s most prolific and dangerous ball-winners, from Daniel Hannebery to Sam Mitchell.

But it was the 21-year-old’s efforts on an Adelaide star that impressed Hayes the most.

“I think he did quite a good job on Dangerfield last week as well against the tide when not many other guys were getting it done.”

Despite the 86-point defeat, Curren held the bullocking Crows midfielder to just 19 disposals and one goal.
It’s this sort of performance from a youngster that Hayes says gives the older players “a real lift” and Curren isn’t alone, with a host of similarly promising Saints beginning to make a name for themselves in 2014.

“I guess our members and supporters can see a real future for the team. I think it’s really exciting and we are urging everyone to get on board,” he said.

“[Luke] Dunstan, [Jack] Billings, [Eli] Templeton, [Jimmy] Webster, [Tom] Curren and [Seb] Ross are all pretty new to the system over the last couple of years. They’ve stood up when we’ve needed them to.

“I think there is a really good blend at the moment. Just seeing the development of these young guys and how hungry they are and how much they are buying in – it gives you a real lift around the place.”