Former Sydney and St Kilda midfielder Dan Hannebery has given an insight into the huge trade that saw him move from the Swans to the Saints.
Hannebery started his career strongly, becoming a key part of Sydney’s midfield that won a premiership in 2012 while also winning the AFLCA’s Player of the Year award in 2015.
However, injury unfortunately became a hindering factor in the back end of his tenure at the Swans, leading him to request a trade to St Kilda in 2018 after being prompted out the door.
Persistent soft tissue injuries dampened the three-time All Australian’s time at Moorabbin as well, limiting him to just 18 games in four seasons.
Hannebery opened up on the move on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Feed, which at the time made waves in the footy world.
“I think from my camp, they will say that injuries started to seep in, you were on a decent sized contract at the Swans at the time, form is going downhill a little bit, the club probably wanted to free up some salary cap room,” he said.
“From (Sydney’s) point of view, it’s like ‘no, your manager’s the one that’s shopping you around’. I think it’s a mutual agreement at the end of the day, really.
“Initially you think, hang on a second… what’s going on here? But reality is it’s a business at the same time.
“You understand where the club’s coming from and the reality was I wasn’t playing anywhere near the level that they signed me up to, plus I had a few injuries floating around there.
“So you can understand both sides.”
Hannebery was also asked whether he would have remained a Swan if they had have shown more interest in him, or if he was always going to head back home to Victoria at some point in his career.
“It would’ve made it a lot harder to leave, put it that way,” he said.
“I don’t know the answer to that, I got a really good contract offer from the St Kilda footy club.
“If they wanted me to stay, it’s hard to know, but I think I still probably would’ve gone.”
The midfielder played for the Old Xaverians in the VAFA this season, however a broken jaw led to him calling time on all football.