Daniel Hannebery Biography

Dan Hannebery announces his retirement from AFL football.

Hannebery has endured a nightmare run on the injury front since crossing from Sydney to St Kilda, managing only 17 appearances across four seasons due to recurrent calf, hamstring and groin injuries.

"It's been a tough four years. I haven't played a lot of footy and I've certainly wanted to be out there more and give more to the team and contribute where possible," he said.

When I have played, I feel like I've done that. That's been a really hard pill to swallow because I know my best footy can help the boys."

Dan Hannebery will undergo calf surgery after suffering another soft tissue setback at training.

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten believes injury-plagued star Dan Hannebery can put a nightmare start to his time at Moorabbin behind him and play plenty of football in 2022.

"He's had a pre-season that I think by the numbers is the most he's done in the three or four years here, which is great," Ratten said.

"We still have a go-slow approach with him; we don’t need him firing like a 20-year-old right now; we need him to build and he's doing that."

Dan Hannebery will tackle Geelong on Saturday in his first AFL game since the 2021 semi-final. The 30-year-old has endured a torrid time with injuries since arriving at the Saints ahead of the 2019 season, playing just 13 out of a possible 61 matches.

"Unless he pulls up sore (from training) but he'll play his first game for the year which is pretty exciting. He's worked extremely hard and been extremely frustrated at times with his body but to get a little run at it now is great for me," Saints coach Brett Ratten said.

St Kilda is unable to put a timeline on Dan Hannebery's return to AFL action after the high-priced midfielder suffered another soft-tissue setback.

Hannebery has been unable to push himself beyond a certain level in his rehabilitation from a calf injury that has been troubling him since January.

Dan Hannebery's 2020 season is in jeopardy after another hamstring setback suffered while running during training.

Hannebery will depart the Saints' hub on the Sunshine Coast and return to Victoria to go undergo tendon surgery.

Dan Hannebery will miss three weeks after suffering a right hamstring injury in St Kilda's win over Carlton.

After managing just five games in his first year at Moorabbin in 2019 due to persistent hamstring setbacks, Hannebery had played the first five games to start the 2020 season.

Dan Hannebery looks set to play in the upcoming Marsh Community Series after putting together a solid three weeks of training after breaking his right foot in October.

The St Kilda midfielder suffered the freak injury shortly into his off-season break last year when he tripped on a small set of stairs while visiting his sister and her fiancé in Perth.

Surgery repaired the metatarsal fracture and meant he was on modified duties when the Saints resumed training in November.

However, the 28-year-old has turned a corner in his recovery and has been in full training for three weeks, meaning he appears a likely starter for the Saints' first pre-season game on February 20.

Dan Hannebery is eyeing a return to running early December as he overcomes a broken foot that has delayed yet another pre-season campaign.

"It was a bizarre accident. (I was) at my sister's fiance's place, he's renovating his backyard and there's a big, large step," Hannebery said.

"As I went to step off the balcony onto the asphalt, I did a pretty simple ankle roll, my weight shifted forward and straight away felt a crack. I tried to walk on it I and I knew I was in a little bit of trouble.

"It was really flattening, especially given last year's injury troubles.

"I was feeling really good and well into my running program and it shouldn't put too much (of a) dint on pre-season, considering I wasn't going to do a hell of a lot pre-Christmas, I was going to get managed and looked after a little bit.

"I've got a carbon plate in my shoe now so I'm able to walk around in the runners and hopefully start running in a couple of weeks."

Dan Hannebery will have surgery to have a pin inserted in his right foot after suffering a fracture in an innocuous incident involving outdoor steps at his sister’s house in Perth.

"It's never a good time to suffer an injury but given Dan's recovery will predominantly take place while on leave, we don't expect his pre-season to be impacted greatly," Saints football manager Simon Lethlean said.

"Our team of physios and strength and conditioning guys were keen to manage Dan's workload prior to the Christmas break, and their program will now be pushed back two-to-three weeks."

Dan Hannebery emerges unscathed from his first game for the year for Sandringham in the VFL.

"The plan is, it was about 90 minutes today, and then build up to four quarters," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"He'll have a strong training session, as will the group on Sunday, then see how he feels, how he's performing and we'd be pretty keen to get him in whenever he's right, but we've got to make sure he's right."

Dan Hannebery is setting himself up to return in the "back half" of the season after battling a series of soft-tissue injuries in his first year at his new club.

"It's been a bloody frustrating time post-Christmas, but in saying that I'm doing a mountain of work on-field and off-field trying to get the body right for the long-term," Hannebery told Channel Seven.

"And not an eight, nine, 10-week period where you're getting judged off a half year where you're not playing and hopefully trying to play five or six years for St Kilda."

Dan Hannebery is dropped from St Kilda's leadership group as he continues to rehabilitate from hamstring and calf injuries.

"Dan needs to focus solely on getting himself into a position where he can deliver on his potential to help our team be better," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said in a statement.

"The club wants Dan 100 per cent focused on getting back to his best and let his performances do the talking."

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson concedes the club didn't know the full extent of prized recruit Dan Hannebery's struggles with his body when it traded for him.

"We knew that he had stints where he hadn't played, we knew about his training history, or lack thereof, that he'd really struggle to be able to get the (training) time in," Richardson said.

"Did we think it was going to be as significant as this? No, we didn't. We did know we were getting a bloke that we needed to, to some extent, rebuild, but probably not to this extent."

Dan Hannebery is dealing with hamstring 'awareness' that afflicts the 28-year-old when he builds his training loads up.

"In his two years leading into this year, he just hasn't been able to get the consistency of training, and that's probably caught up with him a little bit," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"As he's really started to ramp up the tempo, that is, getting closer to games, his body's just said 'no, no, I just need to get some more miles in'."

After being well below his best in 2018, Saint recruit Dan Hannebery says he wants to recapture the form that made him a three-time All-Australian.

"To have two down years was disappointing and I've got a point to prove to myself I guess, but certainly to the St Kilda boys, you've got to earn their respect first and foremost, and the coaches ... and the supporters, and that's the most important thing," he said.

"I really want to try to get back to some really solid form, particularly early in the season, and go from there."

Dan Hannebery joins St Kilda on a five-year deal after Sydney agreed to trade the three-time All Australian.

Under the deal, St Kilda gives up pick No.39 and its future second-round pick in return for Hannebery and pick No.28.

Hannebery is set to earn $800,000 a season over his first four years with St Kilda, but will revert to a smaller base with incentives in the deal's final year.

St Kilda head of football Simon Lethlean told NAB AFL Trade Radio the Saints conducted a thorough medical on Hannebery.

"He hasn't had a pre-season for the last couple of years and he's got some improvement that our guys think they can make through his groins and his posture and other areas he's started working on based on their advice," Lethlean said.

"They're really confident he's got a lot of footy ahead of him otherwise we wouldn't have offered the deal we have, or seeking the trade we achieved."

Despite three years remaining on his contract with Sydney, Dan Hannebery confirms he would like to accept a five-year contract offered by St Kilda via the upcoming trade period.

"I think the time was right for me to come down, see family and friends, have a fresh start," he said.

"My body is feeling great … but you never know what's going to happen two or three years down the track, it's a combat sport.

"The carrot of an extra two years played a major factor."

Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan are set to continue their careers in Victoria next season after requesting to be traded from Sydney back to their home state.

"Both Dan and Gary have separate and unique circumstances for wanting to explore going home and as a club we are mindful and respectful of those circumstances," Sydney head of football Tom Harley said.

"As a result, we are open to exploring a trade for the pair at next month’s Trade Period and will look to secure the best result for the club."

Sydney CEO Andrew Ireland is adamant Dan Hannebery will remain at the Swans in 2019.

The 27-year-old is contracted until the end of 2021, but there have been reports St Kilda has offered him a five-year-deal to return to Melbourne.

"We didn't sign him on that long-term contract, nor did he sign his side of the contract, not to be with us," Ireland said.

"Whilst there's a lot of talk about it, I expect a much, much higher percentage that he's going to be with us going forward."

According to the Schick AFL Player Ratings, Dan Hannebery has dropped off more than anyone else in the AFL in 2018.

Hannebery has averaged 5.7 ratings points per game in in 2018, which sees him ranked No.321.

That's down from 11.9 points per game in 2017, when he was ranked No.93.

Oliver Florent says he's worked closely with his assigned mentor Dan Hannebery both on and off the field at the Swans.

"He's taught me a lot, we frequently go over vision of my game and his little critiques here and there will hopefully help me take my game to another level," Florent said said of Hannebery.

"We're similar players in the sense that we're both hybrid midfielders.

"He's really encouraging and gives me a lot of confidence and belief, that I can go out there and match it with the best players, but if I ever do something wrong he'll definitely let me know about it."

Dan Hannebery has rubbished suggestions he's playing hurt.

His 23.2 possessions per game this year is his lowest average since 2011.

"I've been 100 per cent fit to train at our main sessions and play, and feel really good going into games, so from that perspective I'm fine," Hannebery said.

"My running during a game hasn't been affected by any niggles or injuries or anything like that.

"My form has been inconsistent at best, and it's been really disappointing. I'm working hard to rectify it."

Amid celebrating the Western Bulldogs' first flag since 1954, premiership captain Easton Wood sent a text message to Dan Hannebery to check on the Sydney player's health after a sliding incident left the star midfielder injured.

Both players contested a loose ball in the opening minutes of the final term and Wood collided with Hannebery's left knee.

It left Hannebery hobbled with a medial ligament strain that meant he could not run for four weeks. He tried to return to the field in the decider after having the joint strapped but ultimately he was forced to spectate.

"Easton is a great guy and a sensational player. He messaged me two days after the Grand Final," Hannebery said.

"He was within his rights to still be celebrating for another six-to-eight weeks and not even think about it.

"It shows the calibre of the man and the culture the Bulldogs are creating. He got on the front foot and messaged me. Full credit to him, it shows the quality of the bloke and player he is."

Daniel Hannebery says he is benefiting from being alcohol-free during his off-season trip to the United States.

"I made the call to get off (alcohol) and it's probably been five months now, and then when I realised how good I felt after eight or nine weeks, I thought 'Why not keep it going?'" Hannebery said.

"When I was a bit younger I'd go on a break and have too many beers with my mates, probably not eat the right foods, and go out a bit more than you should, and as a young player that’s a trap you can fall into.

"You don't think about it too much, you don't think about being out of shape and the training sessions you might miss, but when you get older you get smarter.

"You have to go away and make sure you switch off, but in the back of your mind you know you have to come back in a condition that will allow you to have a good pre-season."

Dan Hannebery won't require knee surgery despite suffering a serious medial ligament injury late in the Grand Final loss to the Bulldogs.

Scans have revealed the extent of the 25-year-old's injury, which will require him to wear a precautionary brace on the injured left leg over summer, rather than go under the knife.

Josh Kennedy wins his third Bob Skilton Medal as Sydney's club champion.

He polled a perfect 50 votes in the Grand Final to bring his total to a club record 922 votes and pip fellow onballer Dan Hannebery (913) in a thrilling finish.

"We're just really lucky to have him," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"He's a player whose consistency since he's been at our club has been nothing short of remarkable.

"Josh never plays a bad game. His will and competitive spirit to be able to play well in the biggest games year in, year out is quite amazing – he's just simply one of the best big-game players there is."

Dan Hannebery suffers a medial ligament injury to his left knee in the final quarter of the Swans' Grand Final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Hannebery was contesting a ball with Bulldogs skipper Easton Wood, who slid in and collected the Swan's knee, forcing him from the ground in the hands of two trainers for treatment.

Dan Hannebery says his 150th game for the club has crept up on him quickly.

Hannebery will reach the milestone against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday in his eighth season, the third quickest Swan to get to the mark from debut behind 2005 premiership midfielder Jared Crouch and recently retired legend Adam Goodes.

Hannebery said splitting his life between Sydney and Melbourne at the beginning of his career was an interesting way to start a career.

"It was a unique situation I suppose," Hannebery said.

"Trying to study until Thursday, coming up here to train and play and then flying back down on Sunday for the school week of four days.

"I had some good friends who were making sure I was pretty grounded going back (to Melbourne).

"I had a lot of help from the club, some mates and some teachers.

"I just passed so I was happy the teachers gave me a bit of a leg-up.

"Certainly at the time your focus is on football, you try and study and do your best in that department but in that eight weeks I must say I didn't have much on my mind apart from trying to play good footy."

Steele Sidebottom accepts a two-match ban for engaging in rough conduct on Sydney Swan Dan Hannebery.

Dan Hannebery and defenders Dane Rampe and Heath Grundy have been added to the Sydney Swans leadership group for 2016.

The trio was voted into the new roles by teammates on the Swans' pre-season camp to Coffs Harbour a fortnight ago, joining co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack, plus Nick Smith, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker in the eight-man group.

Dan Hannebery says it is a thrill to be included in the Swans' leadership group for 2016, after his off-field professionalism had let him down at times early in his career.

"I had a few frank discussions (back then) with the coach and a few other leaders about the importance of showing up and making sure you set a high standard, not only for yourself but for your teammates," he said.

"An area they thought that I could improve was (my) leadership and I've still got a long way to go.

"I'm looking forward to hopefully driving the group, if you look at the better leaders around the AFL they always set a high standard at training and on match day, so that's something I try and maintain."

Josh Kennedy becomes a dual club champion after taking out the 2015 Bob Skilton Medal as Sydney's best and fairest.

The former Hawk led the competition for contested possessions, stoppages and clearances this year, and has now incredibly finished on the best and fairest podium in each of his six seasons in Sydney.

Kennedy – who won his first best and fairest in the Swans' last premiership year of 2012 – capped off a brilliant season by taking the award from All Australian Dan Hannebery, with co-captain Kieren Jack in third.

Dan Hannebery wins the AFL Coaches Association player of the year award for 2016.

Hannebery said it had been his most consistent season and returning from the summer break in better condition had been the key to his improvement.

"I was challenged at the end of last season to come back in good condition (because) I'd probably play a bit more inside as opposed to just wing," Hannebery said.

"I made a commitment to really make the most of that six weeks before we got back and come back in reasonable shape.

"That's half the battle. If you come back in reasonable shape then you can just get on with training and look to improve.

"(The award) is something you do hold in high regard because you respect the coaches and they're extremely knowledgeable people who know a lot about the game."

Sydney signs Daniel Hannebery to a five-year contract extension.

Hannebery was not out of contract until the end of next season, but made the early commitment to make the most of the lengthy term on offer.

The deal, which locks Hannebery away until the end of 2021, means the prime mover will not become a restricted free agent next year.

Dan Hannebery will be sidelined for around a month with a torn ligament in his ankle, suffered in the Swan's round 13 four-point victory over Port Adelaide.

The Match Review Panel says Sydney Dan Hannebery has no case to answer over his collision with Essendon defender Michael Hurley.

Dane Rampe says teammate Dan Hannebery's had no choice but to bump Essendon's Michael Hurley as they both contested for a loose ball.

Hannebury clattered into Hurley, leaving him temporarily stunned and setting the stage for another divisive ruling from the Match Review Panel.

"If you pull out, you're going to be branded a sissy or accused of lacking courage," Rampe said.

"Or you're going to kill yourself if you go in like Hurley did (and butt heads).

"So you have to brace. It's just human nature to protect yourself, that's the way it should be and that's what we're taught when we're growing up."

Dan Hannebery says his next challenge as a midfielder is to more effectively deal with taggers.

"I probably had nine or 10 games last year where I had someone sit on me, which is a new challenge and something many players go through," Hannebery said.

"We've got a lot of players that have gone through that and have a lot of players and coaches that you can speak to during the pre-season to try to help you with that form of the game."

Dan Hannebury wins the Anzac medal for being best on ground against St Kilda in Wellington.

Sydney coach John Longmire said Hannebury almost missed the match after suffering a corked calf against Geelong the week before.

"He was probably doubtful to play after last week, to be honest," Longmire said.

"He copped a huge cork on his calf but I saw him the next day after last week's game and he never had any doubt.

"I never really saw him without ice on his calf. Every time I saw him he'd have his foot wrapped up or his leg wrapped up in ice."

Sydney Swans premiership player Daniel Hannebery is involved in a driving mishap at the Falls Festival's camping ground.

Swans spokesman Jonathon Monasso said Hannebery was sitting in the stationary van with a friend, when the handbrake came loose and the vehicle rolled into two other parked cars.

Dan Hannebery feels he owes a debt to the Swans after 'letting a few guys down' during last year's finals series against Hawthorn.

"I felt I let a few guys down by not being able to fill my role for the whole game and play the way I wanted to play," Hannebery said.

"In the back of my mind I was hoping I'd be right, but subconsciously I knew I wasn't 100 per cent.

"It does give you a bit of fire in the belly to want to give back this finals series. I want to make sure I help my teammates out and have a good impact for them."

Geelong midfielder James Kelly is critical about teammate Steve Johnson's one-match suspension for a block on Sydney's Daniel Hannebery.

"I think these days it is getting harder and harder to be an AFL footballer and especially out on the ground, with so much happening and so many decisions you have got to make in such a short space of time," Kelly said.

"It's getting really, really hard to know what you can and can't do."

Dan Hannebery says he is confident he has put his shoulder problems behind him to take his game to a new level for the Sydney Swans after tallying a career-best 42 possessions against West Coast.

"They say [my shoulders] are stronger now after those operations. I kept working on my strength and so far they've been good," Hanneberry said.

"You lose two pre-seasons of strength work and I'm still playing catch-up with that stuff, but so far so good. Hopefully they can stay strong for years to come."

Dan Hannebery is focused on getting back to full fitness after a second bout of surgery this pre-season.

"Everything went to plan, it was a pretty minor 'scope - just a little bit of a clean-up," Hannebery said.

"The first week I can't do a lot because the stitches are still in, so I've got to wait before I can get them out. You don't want to sweat too much and risk infection.

"It will be about two or three weeks before I can run and (after that) I won't be too far away from full training I don't think."

Swan Dan Hannebery will undergo minor knee surgery that will keep him from full training for a month.

"Dan suffered a minor strain to his calf on Friday, and then his knee seemed a little more sore too, so we sent him for a scan on Tuesday," Swans' physiotherapist Matt Cameron said.

"The scan showed a small piece of loose cartilage in his left knee, which needs to be removed. It's only a minor surgical intervention."

Sydney Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery is developing a reputation as one of the more courageous and determined players in the AFL.

"Basic footy 101 is to win the footy when it's there and try to get involved. That's the best way to play footy I think," he said.

"Whether you're an inside or outside player, you have to win the footy when it's there."

Sydney Swans midfielder Daniel Hannebery has been unanimously voted as the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star.

"One of the things that young players generally go through is a mental lapse or a number of games where they struggle, but this has certainly not been the case with Dan," Sydney coach Paul Roos said.

"His ability to have an impact in all of the games he has played has been really significant and a great number of his games have been of a very high quality We believe he is thoroughly deserving of this Rising Star award."

Daniel Hannebery will remain with the Sydney Swans until at least 2013 after signing a new deal with the club.

"It was really easy, really quick and there was no hesitation at all. It's a sensational club and it's a real privilege to be a part of it," Hannebery said.

"As soon as the club came [to me], I was quick to jump on board straight away and I said yes."

A 23-possession game in the Swans' win over the Crows has earned Daniel Hannebery this week's NAB Rising Star nomination.

"He has areas of his game he wants to continue to work on, there is still a lot of improvement in his game but we're really pleased with the way he's going," Sydney coach Paul Roos said.

"His nomination shows the direction the club is heading. We've got some good young kids and hopefully they'll put pressure on the senior players throughout the year."

Nab AFL Rising Star nominee Dan Hannebery says a tumultuous off-season opened his eyes to the reality of life as a full-time footballer.

Hannebery was kept away from contact drills for several weeks after breaking his cheekbone in a fall during a night out with friends earlier in the year.

"It's just really highlighted how careful you need to be and how aware you need to be of your actions the whole time, not just when you're on the training track," he said.

"You need to be really careful when you're away from the club and you're at home with your mates, because they're living a different life to what we are.

"I'm out to prove to the leadership group, and the club, and the coaches who gave me the opportunity that I've learned my lesson and I'm now a full-time footballer."

Swans midfielder Daniel Hannebery has recovered from a fractured cheekbone that prevented him from flying back to Sydney.

"I am disappointed that my pre-season has had this interruption. I was feeling good before the break and wanted a good start to the new year," Hannebery said.

"I am eager to get back to Sydney and join the rest of the team in pre-season training."

Promising young Sydney Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery has been suspended for his part in a prank involving the throwing of eggs at Melbourne's Xavier College.

The Swans, however, have decided that they will not take any further action against the youngster.

The Swans will unveil exciting schoolboy talent Daniel Hannebery this weekend against Carlton.

Hannebery has been playing for Xavier College in Melbourne and has only spent the last three weeks in Sydney as he has been busy completing his year 12 studies.

"I definitely didn't think I would be playing AFL senior footy when I came to Sydney three weeks ago," Hannebery said.

"It was more about development and learning and getting the most out of three weeks up here and being part of a professional set-up.

"It was an awesome feeling when Roosy called me into his room and told me that I would be playing this week.

"It is good that I have been in form in the reserves and I am hoping to take that into the match on Saturday."