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

Earlier this season, his coach John Longmire described him as "courageous, bordering on being a maniac", following a one-point loss to Essendon in round 20.

In that game, Hannebery was crunched by the considerably larger figure of Bombers forward Michael Hurley in a marking contest, but quickly shook it off and returned to the field.

Ever since he was a youngster, Hannebery has only ever known one way to play and it has put him well on the path to a successful AFL career.

"Most players just play instinctively, really. When the ball's there to be won, you just have to win it, no matter where it is or in what situation," the 20-year-old said.

"I think most players have it drilled into them from a young age, by a coach or someone close to them who knows a bit about footy, about how to go about it.

"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.

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

Selected with the 30th pick in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, Hannebery wasn't expected to play seniors in his first year in Sydney as he juggled year 12 duties at Xavier College in Melbourne.

But the blond youngster's talents quickly became apparent in the reserves, prompting then Swans coach Paul Roos to pick him for seven matches that season.

"It was obviously pretty surreal knowing I was playing AFL footy while still at school," Hannebery recalled.

"But at the same time I was getting a lot of support from the coaches and players which made it a lot easier.

"I had a good routine going of flying up on the Thursday and playing and then going back to school.

"It was different, but I had a lot of support around me, which made it easier."

The following year he played 21 games and became the second Swan after Adam Goodes to win the AFL Rising Star award, claiming the honour ahead of players such as Nic Naitanui, Tom Scully and Chris Yarran.

Hannebery presents himself extremely well and has been mooted as a potential future captain of the club.

He is also desperate to learn and improve.

Longmire has something of an open-door policy, encouraging players to come to his office for advice or feedback whenever they like.

It is a policy that Hannebery persistently takes advantage of as he strives to improve his already impressive game.

It also may explain why the vast majority of his teammates list him as the 'coach's favourite' when they are polled in the AFL Record.

By his own admission, Hannebery had a quiet start to 2011, but he has hit his straps over the second half of the season.

Since round 13, he is averaging nearly 25 disposals per game and has been a key cog in the Swans' charge towards the AFL finals.

"Not looking too far into it, but I reckon I've had a good second half of the year," he said.

"I feel like I've built and learned a lot from the coaches and the players around me.

"I think I've definitely developed and improved. Having said that I think I still have my best footy ahead over the next few weeks."

Hannebery is desperate for team success, so while he enjoyed his Rising Star victory, the fact it came the week the Swans were preparing to face Carlton in the finals meant he had little time to really savour it.

Coming off last week's superb victory over the Cats in Geelong, the Swans are heavily favoured to make short work of the Brisbane Lions this Saturday in their final match before the finals.

But Hannebery, who will play his 50th game this week at the SCG, knows they need to remain focused and maintain their intensity.

"It's a big game for us," he said.

"We obviously had a good win on the weekend, but it means nothing this week if we can't keep our form going.

"It's really important going into the finals we play the same way we played last week and keep displaying our trademark.

"Everyone has lifted their effort and intensity levels and sticking to the game plan and making sure our pressure's right up there.

"If we can keep that going, it's going to be really good going into finals."