ST KILDA great Lenny Hayes will play his last home game this weekend against the Western Bulldogs, with the club going to great lengths to mark the occasion.

The Saints have planned a number of activities to pay homage to their retiring champion, with gate seven at Etihad Stadium to be known as the 'Lenny Hayes Gate', while the Lockett End of the venue will become the 'Lenny End'.

Hayes spoke to the AFL Record earlier this week, suggesting he had been overwhelmed by the club’s endeavours.

When Hayes announced his retirement (effective at the end of the season) on July 15, people across the football world were quick to congratulate him on a stellar career.

Hayes is a modern great, and universally respected. He won the Norm Smith medal in the 2010 drawn Grand Final, has been named All-Australian three times, has won the Trevor Barker Award as St Kilda's best and fairest player three times and has captained the club.

But he missed the one prize he most coveted, going so close twice.

Hayes could well have been a dual premiership player, if not for a moment of brilliance from Geelong's Matthew Scarlett in the 2009 Grand Final or a cruel bounce that escaped the clutches of Stephen Milne in the 2010 Grand Final draw.

"That's footy and that's life. I'd much rather be there and have a chance of winning one, than not having got there," Hayes says.

"We gave it absolutely everything we had and unfortunately we didn't get the win, but I'm just really proud of what we stood for over a long period of time."

Read the full story with Hayes, including a tribute from Hayes’ former teammate Steven Baker, in this week's edition of the AFL Record, available at all grounds.