Saint Dan Hannebery says broken foot won’t hamper his 2020 season
St Kilda midfielder Dan Hannebery was “flat” and “frustrated” after his latest injury mishap, but he’s not letting it get him down as the Saints’ new faces stepped out on Monday.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
St Kilda star Dan Hannebery is confident his latest “bizarre” injury will not stop him from launching into a big 2020 campaign.
The Saints’ pre-season got underway on Monday with about half the squad taking part in a 3km time trial.
With the other half at the club training, midfielder Ed Phillips took out the time trial for the second straight year.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Ed Phillips takes out the @stkildafc 3km time trial @superfooty @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/ExHPWZ6t0X
— Nick Smart (@NickSmart85) November 17, 2019
Doulton Langlands and Josh Battle rounded out the top three.
New recruit Dougal Howard was lapped in his first appearance in Saints colours.
Hannebery could do little but cheer the players on after breaking his foot last month during his time off.
While “flat” and “frustrated” at the setback, the former Swan said he was still only “two or three weeks” behind where he otherwise would have been.
“It was a bizarre accident, really,” he said.
“I was at my sister’s fiance’s place and he was renovating their back yard.
“There was this big, large step off the balcony onto the concrete.
“I’ve got to make sure he gets that fixed because my sister did the same thing, where she didn’t break her ankle but did a bad roll.
“As I went to step over the balcony step and onto the asphalt, I did a fairly simple ankle roll and my weight shifted forward and straight away I felt a crack.
“I tried to walk on it and I knew I was in a fair bit of trouble and rang the doctors.”
A scan revealed the break, but Hannebery said he was focusing on the positives.
“I was really flattened, especially given my past few years of injury troubles,” he said.
“And especially because I was feeling really good.
“But it shouldn’t put too much of a dent on my pre-season considering I wasn’t going to do a hell of a lot pre-Christmas anyway.
“I was going to get managed and looked after a little bit anyway, so I’m looking forward to pressing hard during the Christmas break and in early January.”
There is plenty of buzz at Moorabbin after picking up a host of big names during the trade period.
Hannebery said he was happy to see the new faces, but stressed that the hard work started now.
MORE FOOTY:
AFL off-season barometer: Who’s injured and who’s flying in pre-season at every club
St Kilda determined not to throw Max King to wolves in key forward role
Champion Data’s top 30 prospects for the 2019 national draft
“It will be really exciting to play alongside Brad (Hill) and Dougal and Paddy Ryder and Dan Butler.
“Also excited again to play with Zak Jones, who I played a lot of footy up in Sydney with.
“All those guys add different elements to our game and if they’re all fit and well, along with Dylan Roberton and Geary and Webster and myself, it should hopefully be a pretty different looking team.
“But nothing’s won in November so we really have to work super, super hard this pre-season.”
