Twelve months out of the game and Adam Goodes is still having a profound effect on the Sydney Swans’ playing group.
Speaking backstage at Thursday night’s Bob Skilton Medal, having just achieved his second consecutive second-place finish in the coveted award, star midfielder Dan Hannebery believes he’s still got plenty of improvement in him.
He also says, despite finishing as minor premier and reaching the Grand Final, further development is needed by the whole team to go one step better in 2017.
Echoing through the hallways and certainly in the ears of Hannebery, are the wise words of dual Brownlow Medallist and Swans games record holder Goodes who believed, whether you’re a first-year recruit or a seasoned veteran, there was always room for improvement.
“Every player on the list was outstanding this year. I don’t think we haven’t had a player that didn't improve," Hannebery said.
“We all want to go away and have a break, (but) no matter who you are you can always get better.
“It’s something Goodesy installed in us, even in his last year he kept saying you can always get better no matter who you are.
“So that’s what hopefully all of the players will be trying to do over the off-season and pre-season and no doubt I’ll be doing the same.”
Hannebery couldn’t think of a more deserving player than Josh Kennedy to finish runner-up to for the second straight year.
The pair have developed quite the partnership over the past seven seasons, with that mateship extending off the field as well.
He said developing such a strong bond with all his midfield counterparts makes him a better player.
“He’s a superstar and such a joy to play with,” Hannebery said of now three-time champ Kennedy.
“He’s one of my best mates and look up to him in the way he goes about it every week. He came to the club in my proper first year at the Swans and we sort of gelled together from there.
“He’s helped me out on a lot of things, not just football but becoming a better person as well.
“We do our own little to get ready pre-game and then Parks (Luke Parker) and Kizza (Kieren Jack) join in as well – we’re a team within a team.
“We’re all pretty close because you work so closely every session, from the pre-season right through to the regular season, you develop that special bond. It would be the same for the defenders and forwards as well.”
