St Kilda defends decision to elevate recruit Dan Hannebery to leadership group

St Kilda football boss Simon Lethlean has defended the swift elevation of recruit Dan Hannebery to its leadership group amid claims officials at ex-club Sydney “nearly fell off their chairs” when they learned of the Saints’ decision.

St Kilda has defended recruit Dan Hannebery’s elevation to the club’s leadership group. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

St Kilda has defended the swift elevation of recruit Dan Hannebery to its leadership group amid claims officials at ex-club Sydney “nearly fell off their chairs” when they learned of the Saints’ decision.

Football boss Simon Lethlean admitted Hannebery “always had a reputation about social life” but had been “fantastic” since moving to the Saints during the 2018 trade period, hopping into the cauldron of Melbourne football media scrutiny.

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St Kilda has defended recruit Dan Hannebery’s elevation to the club’s leadership group. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

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“Dan knows that coming back to Victoria will be a different kettle of fish for him than Sydney,” Lethlean said on SEN Breakfast.

“He has always had a reputation about social life that he has to deal with, and the only way he can do that is by behaving well, pulling his head in when he needs to, and training hard and actually performing like the three-time All-Australian player that he is when he gets the chance to.”

It’s been a torrid week for the Saints, with star midfielder Jack Steven taking time away from the club to deal with a mental health issue and key defender Jake Carlisle staring down the barrel of back surgery.

Coach Alan Richardson is under pressure to rebound from last year’s horror four-win season.

Lethlean said he’d be “surprised if anyone with any credibility” from the Swans would have been bemused the Saints’ decision to add Hannebery to the leadership group.

“I’d be interested to know who it was that’s laughing about their vice-captain from last year and a 200-game player that’s much-loved by the club,” he said.

“It certainly wouldn’t have come from (coach) John Longmire, (chief executive) Tom Harley or (former CEO) Andrew Ireland and people that are respected in the football industry and I doubt it would come from a club like Sydney that have a great culture and great respect in football.”

Hannebery left the Swans during last year’s trade period. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

On his podcast The Sounding Board, AFL journalist Damien Barrett last week said officials at Sydney “nearly fell off their chairs” when they learned Hannebery was added to the leadership group at St Kilda.

After down years in Sydney, Lethlean said Hannebery, 28, was “frustrated” with his body and was unlikely to play for the Saints in Round 1.

“He’s doing a two-week block of all the hard running that gets you to the next stage where you then join in match simulation type footy,” he said.

“His body is fine insofar as any muscular tears … but he’s just had pain within his hamstring, that doesn’t allow him to extend himself fully.

“He is frustrated, our doctors always knew that with two years of interruption he was going to need to get the blocks of training in that our medical guys say he needs, compared to rushing him.

“He’s come to terms with that I think, he’s just got to work hard … he’s doing the work and his presence on the track in whatever form has been really impressive for the club.

“We look forward to him playing 85-plus games with the Saints, uninterrupted, once we get him right.”