St Kilda recruit Dan Hannebery has hit out at critics who have suggested the midfielder is past his best.
Hannebery, 27, joined the Saints on a five-year deal during the trade period after a decorated 10-year career at Sydney.
Despite struggling with injuries in recent seasons, Hannebery is confident he can get back to his best with a full pre-season under his belt.
“I know who a few of them (critics) were, so I’ve kept that in mind and good luck to them I guess,” Hannebery told SEN’s Time On.
“Everyone’s paid to make an opinion and some of them are trying to make comments to stay relevant and may feel that there’s a need to make comment on certain trades.
“And that’s fair enough, my form in the last few years has been pretty poor, and I’ve been injury-prone, so I guess their comments are fair and reasonable.
“But without knowing much background, I’m pretty confident if I can train and get a fair run at it, keep working hard at what I’m doing and hopefully the body holds up, which I think it will.
“From there it’s about playing a good, tough brand of footy which the whole of St Kilda will be wanting to do as of Round 1 next year.”
Hannebery has played 208 AFL games since debuting back in 2009.
Listen to Dan Hannebery's chat on SEN's Time On with Sam McClure in the player below