Pearce Hanley Biography

Pearce Hanley announces retirement from AFL football, effective immediately.

Injuries cruelled Hanley's time at Gold Coast, restricting him to just 40 games in four seasons, and he finishes his career on 169 games after starting his career as a Lion.

"It's obviously been on my mind for a while and I made the decision a few days ago and haven't had any regrets since," he said.

"I think great clubs are built off great people and the Suns have that. I'll continue to be on this journey with them, but I?ll be watching on from the stands."

Stuart Dew reveals the special bond between co-captain Jarrod Witts and returning deputy Pearce Hanley that has helped the Irishman through a difficult time in his life.

Hanley has dealt with both personal and physical problems since leaving Brisbane in 2016 including losing his younger brother to cancer in 2017.

"We can't really even put ourselves in that space because, well ... I certainly haven't experienced anything like that," Dew said.

"It shows a good support and Jarrod Witts has been fantastic for him. They live together and I think just having him there is a, I don't know if it's brother or father figure, I'll let them work that out, but they're good for each other.

"Jarrod's partner, Renee, they've helped him through this. He loves his footy. It's frustrating because he's a really important part of our side and exciting to watch."

Gold Coast appoints David Swallow and Jarrod Witts as co-captains for the 2019 season.

Witts and Swallow will form a new look eight-man leadership group that includes Touk Miller and Pearce Hanley as vice-captains and Alex Sexton, Jarrod Harbrow, Brayden Fiorini and George Horlin-Smith.

"It's very humbling. It's quite a proud moment for myself," Swallow said.

"I'm really confident with the program and the leaders underneath that we'll see success in the near future."

Pearce Hanley will likely miss the remaining two games of the Lions' 2018 season after injuring his hamstring against Richmond at Metricon Stadium.

It continues a horror run for the 29-year-old since switching from Brisbane at the end of the 2016 season.

On the eve of round one last year his younger brother passed away in Ireland and upon returning from a month off to deal with it, Hanley hurt his foot in a NEAFL game.

"He's worked so hard to come back from his shoulder and he's done a mountain of work, so to lose him today is disappointing for him," Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said.

Pearce Hanley is facing surgery after re-injuring his right shoulder during the first half of the Suns' clash against Fremantle.

It was Hanley’s first game of the season after dislocating the same shoulder in the pre-season. But he didn't even make it to half-time, doing the shoulder again during a relatively tame clash in the midfield in the second quarter at Optus Stadium.

"It doesn’t look good, obviously in the first game back," "Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

"We knew going into the game that it’s a chance, once they start coming out generally you do need to get them fixed (surgically) at some point.

Pearce Hanley avoids surgery, but will spend up to six weeks on the sidelines after dislocating his right shoulder in Gold Coast's JLT Community Series win over Brisbane.

Tom Lynch and Steven May will again co-captain Gold Coast in 2018.

Ruckman Jarrod Witts and midfielder Pearce Hanley have been added to a leadership group that again contains David Swallow, Matt Rosa, Michael Barlow and Touk Miller.

Michael Rischitelli has stepped aside from the role.

"Both Tom and Steven have been extremely invested in the program since my arrival," Suns head coach Stuart Dew said.

"The eight-man leadership group will work closely with myself and the entire football department to ensure we can create an environment that is aligned to our values and provides the best possible opportunity for growth both on and off the field."

Pearce Hanley says navigating a tumultuous 2017 has made him a better person and could even make him a better footballer in 2018.

Hanley left the Brisbane Lions last off-season and has endured the death of his teenage brother, a horror run with injuries, and a losing first season with the Suns.

"I've had a lot of stuff go wrong," Hanley said.

"I had a really good pre-season and was set up for a big year and it obviously didn't eventuate.

"The last few months has only made me stronger as a person on and off the field.

"I think next year it's going to shape and motivate me to get back to my best form."

Pearce Hanley has overcome a heel injury and will play for Gold Coast's NEAFL team at the weekend – his first game in six weeks.

Pearce Hanley is not expected to return before round 10.

Hanley suffered a bruised heel in a NEAFL match on April 16, and Suns coach Rodney Eade confirmed that there had been little improvement.

"They're a bugger of an injury," Eade said.

"We thought at the start that it could be three or four weeks."

Pearce Hanley returns to the Suns from compassionate leave in Ireland.

"It has been a tough month for Pearce, he went back home obviously for a couple of weeks and returned to Australia yesterday," Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said.

"He started training and we’ll assess him throughout the week to make sure we do the right thing by him, to ensure he is physically ready to play."

Pearce Hanley and his brother, Cian Hanley, will return to Ireland to deal with a private family matter.

The Suns and Lions released a joint statement on Sunday evening confirming the brothers will return to their homeland.

Pearce spent time in Ireland over the Christmas break to be his family, including younger brother Tommy, who is suffering stage four cancer.

"Both clubs will provide all the support the family needs during this challenging time," the statement said.

Pearce Hanley opens up about the physical struggles he endured in his final two seasons with the Brisbane Lions.

"I'm able to train how I play, whereas last year, although I didn't feel my hips, I had an ankle injury as well which didn't help, so that stopped me from training," he said.

"Game day I looked sluggish and I felt sluggish. I feel much better this year and I've trained how I want to play and that's with intensity and I'm going to show that this year."

Pearce Hanley says he feels reinvigorated after moving to the Gold Coast from Brisbane.

"I wasn't happy last year, I think everyone could see that," Hanley said.

"The change-up has definitely rejuvenated me.

"I played every game last year, but it's probably the worst my body's felt.

"(High performance manager Justin Cordy) JC's been absolutely incredible. I think they're going to get the best out of me, whereas I didn't see that happening in Brissie."

Pearce Hanley denies "losers' fatigue" at the Brisbane Lions motivated him to seek a fresh start with Gold Coast next season.

"If I thought I could play good football and enjoy myself at Brisbane, because I have for nine years and I haven't been part of a very successful team for nine years, I would still be there," Hanley said.

"To hear that in the media was extremely disappointing, especially when I hadn't received any contact from the club.

"I think that was more a guess from them as to why I was going. I had my reasons and it had nothing to do with losers' fatigue at all."

Pearce Hanley says he believes Tom Rockliff wasn't given adequate support by the club during his captaincy at Brisbane.

"I think if Tom (Rockliff) gets the proper support around him from the footy club as a whole, then he's definitely the right person to be captain," Hanley said.

"He's obviously had a tough year and the club itself has had a couple of tough years, so I think Tom has copped the brunt of that in the media.

"I guess someone had to cop it, and unfortunately it was Tom, but I think if he gets the right support he can be very successful."

Pearce Hanley leaves the Brisbane Lions to join Gold Coast in a three-way trade also involving Port Adelaide.

The exchange sees the Suns receive Hanley from the Lions and draft pick No.67 from the Power, while the Lions receive No.22 from the Suns and the Power's first-round pick next year.

The Power receive No.19 from the Lions and No.30 from the Suns.

Pearce Hanley's manager Paul Connors believes his client is likely to leave the Lions during the 2016 trade period.

"He's really wrestled with the fact of staying or leaving. Brisbane is really keen to get early draft picks into the door, because they don't have a lot of first-round picks," Connors said.

"Pearce is contracted, he's happy to stay, the club's happy for him to stay, but we are entering into a new world and if the deal's right for both parties, (the player will) go.

"I have an inkling that might happen."

Lions list manager Peter Schwab says Pearce Hanley is considering a fresh start at another club after growing weary of continually losing with Brisbane.

"Pearce has got a long-term contract with us (until the end of 2019) and he and us are just exploring it," Schwab said.

"I think Pearce, to be honest, is probably (suffering) a bit of losers' fatigue with Brisbane. He's been there a fair while and has been frustrated that we haven't had success. I think that's part of it."

Pearce Hanley meets with Gold Coast as he edges closer to deciding his football future.

Hanley is contracted with the Lions until the end of 2019 but the club and player are open to a trade this year if a mutually beneficial deal can be done.

Dayne Beams and Daniel Merrett have been appointed vice-captains of the Brisbane Lions after the struggling club issued a virtual call to arms among its most experienced campaigners.

Ex-Magpie Beams, the joint club champion in his debut season with the Lions last year, and elder statesman Merrett join deputies Dayne Zorko, Pearce Hanley and Daniel Rich in an expanded leadership group under second-year captain Tom Rockliff.

Pearce Hanley admits he was more concerned with sinking beer than he was with perfecting his drop punt during his first two years with the Brisbane Lions.

But after copping a rocket from the Lions, and a few choice words from then football manager Graeme 'Gubby' Allan, Hanley knuckled down and changed his ways.

The popular Irishman will play his 100th game against the Sydney Swans at the Gabba on Sunday, but even he conceded that looked a long way off in the early days.

"I think I was drunk my first two years," Hanley said.

"I still had a great time and it's made me who I am now. My professionalism has got a lot better and I'm really enjoying my footy at the moment and I've definitely pulled my head in."

Hanley says his lack of professionalism almost cost him a second contract at the club.

"It dawned on me at my three-year mark," Hanley said.

"I got in a bit of strife and thought I was in a bit of trouble. The club were very good to stand by me.

"I thought I wasn't going to be given another contract and I thought I was going to be sent home.

"I remember I got a bit emotional in front of the boys and I think from there I turned my year around.

"The next pre-season I knuckled down and from there my game has got better and better and I've turned into the player I am today."

Pearce Hanley has warned fans not to expect too much from him too soon ahead of his comeback.

"I haven't had a run in the reserves, but my last two weeks of training have been very hard, I've got a lot of Ks up in sessions and hard running as well so I think I'm ready to go," Hanley said.

Hanley takes the first tentative steps towards his long rehabilitation from hip surgery by jumping on the AlterG (anti-gravity) treadmill to complete his first run since both hips were operated on eight weeks ago.

Hanley is not expected to see action until the second half of the season.

"My back was pretty tight before Christmas, so I just thought my hips were out of whack and something that could be easily fixed," Hanley said about his injury.

"But once we got scanned, and to find out the severity of it, and that I had to get both hips done, it was a shock to the system.

"It wasn't that bad at the start, they said I was getting some bone shaved off and tidy up the cartilage and give it a clean-out."

The Brisbane Lions have been dealt a major blow, with vice-captain Pearce Hanley out until mid-season.

Hanley was originally expected to miss 12 weeks following hip surgery on Wednesday, but the news is now much worse.

The surgery to clean up bone and cartilage in the hip was more extensive once doctors examined the injury.

Pearce Hanley is set to undergo surgery to clean up bone and cartilage in the hip and will be sidelined for 12 weeks.

The problem has only arisen since Hanley returned from his Christmas break.

"Pearce is obviously disappointed to miss the start of the season, but the sensible approach is to have the surgery now," Lions general manager of football operations Dean Warren said.

"We have managed to injury through recent weeks, but there is no use playing through the season and making the injury worse.

"Pearce is key part of our team and we will miss him, but we would rather fix the problem now and make sure we get it right."

Pearce Hanley has agreed to five-year deal with the Brisbane Lions.

"I love the club, I love Brisbane and I want to be a part of the exciting times ahead," Hanley told the club website.

Pearce Hanley will miss at least two weeks with a fractured hand suffered against Melbourne.

"Pearce has been one of our most consistent performers this season," Brisbane general manager of football operations Dean Warren said.

"His absence, however, provides an opportunity for one of our young developing players to gain further senior experience."

Pearce Hanley loves the idea of Australia sending an all-indigenous team to contest the International Rules series and believes Ireland would fully support the concept.

"We have a lot of whippets back in Ireland and obviously the indigenous boys are very quick and skilful, so I reckon that'd make for a very good game," Hanley said.

"I reckon they'd love it. The Irish love the indigenous players because they're all very fast and skilful."

The Brisbane Lions have sanctioned Sam Sheldon and Pearce Hanley after they were charged by Queensland police with being a public nuisance.

"As a club, we have high expectations when it comes to our culture and the behavioural standards of our players," general manager of football operations Dean Warren said.

"While this incident was certainly out of character for both Sam and Pearce, both are fully aware of their obligations as Brisbane Lions players, which is why we have taken this action. Sam and Pearce accept and understand they made a poor decision on the night."

Pearce Hanley says he has based his game on fellow Irishman and Swan Tadhg Kennelly.

"Since I've got here, just what he's done, he's been a great player, he's won a premiership, he's done everything really," Hanley said.

"He's even gone home and won an All Ireland, so whatever Tadhg's done, he's a good role model and I try and base my game off his really."

Brisbane Lions defender Pearce Hanley hopes to one day return to Ireland and Gaelic football despite loving life at the club.

"Every weekend I'm watching the Gaelic football and I'd love to go back and play for (County) Mayo one day, but when it comes … if it comes," Hanley said.

"I love Brisbane, I love the weather, I love the lifestyle. It's better than being at home in college working on weekends so I can't complain."

Michael Voss hopeful that one of his young players can fill the breach in the wake of Jed Adcock's serious knee injury.

The defender twisted awkwardly in the opening minutes of Saturday night's win over Geelong and left the field in pain after injuring his right knee.

"The prognosis straight away was that he was likely to be out for the year, and there's been nothing in the last sort of 24 hours that would suggest that that's changed," Brisbane coach Michael Voss said.

"Another person gets his opportunity. We hope that it's going to be a Tom Collier or a Pearce Hanley ... that's the opportunity that they now have."