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PEARCE Hanley denies "losers' fatigue" at the Brisbane Lions motivated him to seek a fresh start with Gold Coast next season.
The Irishman joined the Suns during the NAB AFL Trade Period after 129 games in nine years in Brisbane without ever playing a final.
Lions list manager Peter Schwab believed Hanley was keen for a change after suffering from "losers' fatigue" at the struggling club, a claim the classy playmaker rejected in an interview with News Corp.
"No, not at all. If I thought I could play good football and enjoy myself at Brisbane, because I have for nine years and I haven't been part of a very successful team for nine years, I would still be there," Hanley said.
"To hear that in the media was extremely disappointing, especially when I hadn't received any contact from the club.
"I think that was more a guess from them as to why I was going. I had my reasons and it had nothing to do with losers' fatigue at all."
Hanley played all 22 games and booted 14 goals for the Lions last season, but the 27-year-old was accused of looking disinterested at times and copped plenty of scrutiny, alongside captain Tom Rockliff, during the three-win campaign.
"I think they expected more from their senior players at Brisbane and there was a lot of pressure put on the senior players," he said.
"And I don’t think they were given the support they should have had. I have read that I looked uninterested which is probably the opposite. I think I was trying too hard and I started to get down on myself and they may have made me look uninterested.
"But I was trying, I was definitely trying my hardest, I was just plain and simply out of form and couldn’t find my way back.
"In terms of Rockliff, he is that good of a player that people expected more from him. In terms of maybe not turmoil, but when things aren’t going well, the finger does get pointed and unfortunately for Rocky for a time it was at him."
Hanley revealed he started thinking about switching clubs after picking up an injury during the disastrous round eight loss to Collingwood and struggling to regain his form.
The chance to work with Suns fitness guru Justin Cordy was a key factor behind his move, which he believes can rejuvenate his career.
"I think that is one of the main reasons why I have moved to the Gold Coast because they are very adamant that they see my best football in front of me, and so do I," Hanley said.
"Last year is going to be my fire to prove that and to drive myself to keep improving."
Hanley won't have long to wait until he faces his former club, with the teams set to face off in the 13th QClash in round one at Metricon Stadium.
