Hayes said he used both on rare occasions, that their use was widespread in the AFL, and he could see no problem with them.
The issue has arisen after Ben Cousins’ hospitalisation after an adverse reaction to a sleeping tablet taken after the Tigers stirring win over Sydney Swans on Sunday.
Hayes is well placed to comment on the issue - he has been in the game since the Saints took him with pick 11 in the 1998 national draft and has played 228 games, winning the 2003 best-and-fairest and three All-Australian jumpers along the way.
He said the caffeine tablets had the same effect as a cup of coffee.
"I think it depends on the individual player - I know that they are used fairly commonly throughout the AFL," he said at the Saints training base on Tuesday morning.
"Personally, every now and again I use them, but it just depends on a week-to-week thing; it's not something that I do every week.
"It just gives you a little pep up before a game if you're feeling a little bit flat."
The 30-year-old said sleeping tablets were also sometimes required.
"With the sleeping tablets, it can be very hard to unwind; again, it's not something personally that I use every week, but occasionally, when you're lying in bed late and night and you need some sleep, and you've got a short break before the next game, it is something I've used in the past.
"And again, it depends on the individual - some guys have no worries after a game, they're pretty tired and get to sleep, but other guys, you're wound up, you've had a really good win, it can be hard to get that sleep."
And he went in to bat for young teammate Alistair Smith, who was described by colourful Western Bulldogs player Jason Akermanis as "some dribbler who can't play at all, who can't kick, his whole job is to hold you to make sure you don't get the ball''.
Akermanis and the Bulldogs have since apologised for the comment, made after
Smith, playing for Sandringham, tagged Akermanis when the Brownlow medallist played for Williamstown in the VFL last weekend, but Hayes said he didn't think it would affect the 19-year-old at all.
"Alistair Smith is a really good young player, and from all reports on Sunday he played his role within the team," Hayes said.
"I think he's got a really big future ahead of him for the footy club, so we're really happy with where he's at.
"He's going great; it's not going to bother him too much.
"Football is an opinion-based business, and we all know that Aker has his bit to say every now and then, so it didn't surprise me."
