Season Review: #4 Hanners

[liz]

Hanners teased us in the early years by looking like he could be a dangerfeld/Martin/Kelly elite player, but never seems to have got there.

8/10

He's never had the explosiveness of a Dangerfield or Martin, or the classy footskills of a Kelly (I assume you're taking about Josh Kelly here, not PK. If you're talking about PK, his explosive pace was one of his best assets).

Martin's just had one of the best seasons on record but it's taken him some time reaching his potential. At the start of this year he'd only made the AA team once (and that was in 2016 when he got lots of the ball but was far less damaging than in 2017) compared to Hannebery's thrice. Even Dangerfield's now tally of five AAs hardly blows Hanners out of the water, especially given he's a year older.

I'm not suggesting that Hanners is capable of lifting his game to the level that Danger has (2016-17) or Martin (2017) given the previously noted lack of explosiveness (and he's a fair bit smaller than either of them too) but he's carved out a consistent and fairly well decorated career in his own right and I think most AFL players would be proud to achieve his level of performance.

It's also worth pointing out that Martin was a pick 3 back in his day (and many would have taken him at pick 1) and Dangerfield was also a top 10 pick. I suggest their size and pace, both of which have contributed to them achieving the standards they now have, were significant reasons why they were drafted so high and Hanners was drafted at pick 30.

[Blood Fever]

He's never had the explosiveness of a Dangerfield or Martin, or the classy footskills of a Kelly (I assume you're taking about Josh Kelly here, not PK. If you're talking about PK, his explosive pace was one of his best assets).

Martin's just had one of the best seasons on record but it's taken him some time reaching his potential. At the start of this year he'd only made the AA team once (and that was in 2016 when he got lots of the ball but was far less damaging than in 2017) compared to Hannebery's thrice. Even Dangerfield's now tally of five AAs hardly blows Hanners out of the water, especially given he's a year older.

I'm not suggesting that Hanners is capable of lifting his game to the level that Danger has (2016-17) or Martin (2017) given the previously noted lack of explosiveness (and he's a fair bit smaller than either of them too) but he's carved out a consistent and fairly well decorated career in his own right and I think most AFL players would be proud to achieve his level of performance.

It's also worth pointing out that Martin was a pick 3 back in his day (and many would have taken him at pick 1) and Dangerfield was also a top 10 pick. I suggest their size and pace, both of which have contributed to them achieving the standards they now have, were significant reasons why they were drafted so high and Hanners was drafted at pick 30.

Had a great career with us. Outstanding player who does not have the power or size of Martin or Dangerfield. Courageous to a fault, especially for his weight. Premiership player who could easily have a Norm Smith medal to his name.

[Swansongster]

Had a great career with us. Outstanding player who does not have the power or size of Martin or Dangerfield. Courageous to a fault, especially for his weight. Premiership player who could easily have a Norm Smith medal to his name.

He was BOG on GF day 2012 (IMHO). Robbed.

[RogueSwan]

He was BOG on GF day 2012 (IMHO). Robbed.

And if he didn't get it AJ should have.

[dimelb]

And if he didn't get it AJ should have.

Mrs d and I watched the 2012 GF last night and were even more impressed with Alex's game. We are now looking forward to a solid pre-season for him and seeing what emerges.