Just one summer on the training track has been enough to convince vice-captain Dan Hannebery the new-look Sydney Swans’ list is in a stronger position than what was left at the conclusion of last season.
Despite the departure of three grand final players during the off-season in Tom Mitchell (traded), Ben McGlynn (retired) and Xavier Richards (delisted), plus veteran defender Ted Richards (retired), Hannebery told SEN Breakfast on Thursday that the Club’s new additions have impressed enough to instil the star midfielder with plenty of confidence going into the new year.
First-round draftee Ollie Florent and mature-age ruckman Darcy Cameron were shining lights in the Swans’ first JLT Community Series clash to back up Hannebery’s claims, as did promising bookends defender Jack Maibaum and forward Robbie Fox.
Will Hayward, the 21st pick in last year’s draft pool, will this week get his first chance to put a strong summer into practice when the Swans do battle with GWS in week three of the pre-season series.
It’s not only the new arrivals which has Hannebery excited - the progression of the Club’s rookies and second-to-fourth year players, now with yet another pre-season under their belts, only strengthens the list.
“Most clubs would say they’re always in a stronger position but I honestly believe we’re in a stronger position than what we were last year,” Hannebery said.
“We obviously lost Teddy Richards and Benny McGlynn, both retiring, and they were great stalwarts of the club and incredible players.
“But we feel, with the list we’ve got, a lot of the younger guys are more experienced (now) as we’ve got more game time into them.
“We feel the way some of those guys have gone about their pre-season that, all things being equal, and having your senior guys healthy and playing good footy, that we should be in a better place this year.”
The healthy list is just one of the reasons behind Hannebery putting pen to paper and signing a mega five-year deal halfway through 2015.
His re-signing resurfaced in Thursday’s chat with Garry Lyon, Tim Watson and Hamish McLachlan.
The 26-year-old, who’s finished runner-up in the Bob Skilton Medal two years running, said the most important factor was “my relationship with the footy club.”
“I love the footy club and the players,” he said.
“We were in a really good spot at that stage with our list and where we were going. I’ve always had trust in the group we’ve got but even more so now.
“Going forward, I thought it was a great position to be in.”
Hannebery will line-up for his second game of the pre-season in Friday’s cross-town derby at Blacktown.
