New Saint Hannebery stares down the doubters

There weren't many footballing dreams Dan Hannebery didn't fulfil in his 10 seasons at the Sydney Swans.

One premiership from three grand finals, the rising star award, twice runner-up in the club best-and-fairest, three All-Australian selections and a reputation as a fearless midfielder, one that earned him the AFL Coaches Association award in 2015.

Dan Hannebery.

Dan Hannebery.Credit:Joe Aramao

He even became the youngest and fastest player in the Swans' history to reach 200 games when he reached the milestone aged 27 years and 97 days, a mere eight years and 318 days after making his debut in 2009 when he was still a schoolboy at Melbourne's Xavier College.

Still, St Kilda's decision at the end of the season to recruit him on a long-term deal has been questioned and you don't have to walk far to find someone willing to suggest Hannebery's best football his well behind him.

Recent evidence makes such an assessment reasonable too, with Hannebery struggling for form and fitness in the past two seasons.

Until late in 2018, when his groins and calf injury settled, he was a pale imitation of his former self.

This season was the first time since 2009 Hannebery had failed to poll a Brownlow vote and he finished outside the top 10 in the Swans' best-and-fairest for the first time since 2014.

It all means that despite him being the best-performed Saint by a long way when he pulls on his new No.10 St Kilda jumper, any hopes Hannebery might drag the club that hasn't played finals since 2011 (coincidentally against Sydney) back into contention will be tempered.

With his 28th birthday just three months away Hannebery knows the doubts that surround him and the Saints' decision to recruit him but he is staring them down with his usual bravado.

"People have had opinions about the last few years and fair enough, I haven't been playing great footy," he said.

"A lot of people probably don't know the background so that's fine … I have got a point to prove but so does the whole footy club."

The point the Saints have to prove is obvious with the club having a dismal 2018, finishing third bottom and failing to deliver on even the most pessimistic pre-season predictions.

However the point Hannebery has to prove is less obvious, until you hear him reveal the way he motivates himself.

"I am probably my harshest critic … to have two down years was disappointing and I have a point to prove to myself I guess," Hannebery said.

Clearly he has not enjoyed his tumble down the pecking order of elite midfielders, regardless of the fact the fall has been more a function of his beaten up body than his ability.

So he has not found it too hard to set himself the mental challenge of preparing in a fastiduous manner this summer to increase his chances of having an injury-free season in 2019.

Hannebery admits he was smarter during the recent off-season, conscious of the need to make a good initial impression, an approach which allowed him to join in training at the Saints a fortnight earlier than most of his new teammates to build the foundation he needs to rekindle his best form.

Hannebery has also begun working with body movement expert Mark McGrath, who helped former Hawthorn star Luke Hodge (who looked beaten up at the end of 2012) throughout his career, and discussed his approach with the Saints' medical team.

He is certain his approach will have him ready to roll when round one comes around as he wears a jumper number most recently worn by Nathan Freeman, but made famous at St Kilda by Carl Ditterich, Peter Everitt and Steven Baker. And he is confident the Saints will improve too.

"They are a lot better club than what they showed [in 2018] and the club, as well as myself, have got a lot to prove next year which is exciting," Hannebery said.

It's November. Hannebery knows his chance to answer won't come until much later.

What happens now can only determine the strength of his response.

"You do need a little bit of luck but at the same time I am really confident that with [my] work ethic and a little bit of management I will be fine," Hannebery said.

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