Pearce Hanley ready to face his former club Brisbane in Round 1 debut for Gold Coast

GOLD Coast recruit Pearce Hanley wants to make a statement and a Round 1 QClash against his former club is the perfect place to do it.

Pearce Hanley wants to make a statement in Round 1. Picture: Adam Head

PEARCE Hanley wants to make a statement.

And for the best performed player in Q Clash history, his first meeting against his former club is the perfect place to do it.

Hanley has no gripes against the Lions and nor is there any ill will directed towards him from his old club. Both parties insist it was as close to an amicable footballing divorce as you can get.

RIVALRY RENEWED: THE TOP FIVE QCLASH MOMENTS

YOUNG GUNS: SUNS TOP 10 QUARTET SIGN FOUR-YEAR DEALS

LITTLE MASTER: MOVE THAT WILL BOOST GAZ BY ‘10 PER CENT’

But he is driven to show the football world and the Lions that the best football of his career will come in a Suns jumper.

Considering he has won two Marcus Ashcroft Medals and polled more votes than anyone else, it is a big statement.

“I want to make a statement and show them my best football is in front of me and that is going to start hopefully against Brisbane and then I want to push on and have a great year,’’ he said.

Pearce Hanley is tackled high by Jason Johannisen. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“There is no ill will towards Brisbane but yeah I hope I do play well and we get a good win.’’

Hanley hasn’t been able to resist sending the odd photo to his old mates showing them the all the facilities he is now enjoying in the Suns’ shiny new $20m headquarters.

On the flip side, the Lions boys have enjoyed asking him how he thinks he’ll go for the Suns’ NEAFL side this year.

The 28-year-old says he enjoys the banter and remains firm friends with his old team mates.

But he is one of very few from either Queensland club that will shake hands with the opposition on Saturday with any genuine warmth. .

The Irishman freely admits the rivalry between the two clubs has evolved into a bitter dislike.

Pearce Hanley at Gold Coast training. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Pearce Hanley as a Lion in 2016.

Public enemy No.1 at the Gabba is Steven May and he admits he was surprised to find he got along so well with his new skipper.

“In its infancy it didn’t have that bite to it but as the years went on and the games went on it definitely did,’’ he said.

“Obviously the name on every Brisbane Lions’ players lips would have to be Steven May, he has caused the Brisbane boys a lot of trouble in the past.

“He has got a few of them, so he would be the first name that comes up.

“But I’ve found I love Maysie, he is the heart and soul of the dressing room, he’s good fun and I’m good friends with him now.

“It is always like that in football until you get to know someone.’’

Pearce Hanley will face his former club in Round 1. Picture: Adam Head

However, Hanley says it wasn’t the rivalry that pushed him to produce some of his greatest games in Q Clashes.

The Suns just often allowed him to roam free.

With a new coach at Brisbane he is unsure what to expect from the Lions but says with team mates like Gary Ablett and David Swallow at the Suns he’d be surprised and even flattered to receive extra special attention.

“I am not sure if it was gamestyle, but I always seemed to have a lot more freedom against the Gold Coast and I’ve been able to play my best football,’’ he said.

“Whether I am afforded that against Brisbane I am not sure, but I’ll be looking to tap that same form just on a different team.

“I would be flattered (if I was tagged), there is better players on the Suns team than me so I would be very flattered.’’

Originally published as Pearce Hanley ready to face his former club Brisbane in Round 1 debut for Gold Coast