After not having his first real kick of a Sherrin until signing a two-year deal with the Lions in late 2007, the 22-year-old readily admits to routinely making mistakes that had his mates in stitches.
Although not keen to elaborate on exactly what he was doing wrong, it was a learning period that served him well.
Hanley has become an integral part of the Lions team that has won its past two matches and is in the process of reviving its season.
The dashing defender has averaged 23 disposals a match over the past month and is ninth in the AFL in running bounces (21) and 10th in marks (60).
"In my first 10 or 15 games (in the reserves), I don't think I went through a game without making a mistake or giving the boys something to laugh at," he said.
"But as I went on, I tried to limit the mistakes and I've sort of got them out of my game now, but a few of them still creep in."
After a sketchy first couple of seasons hampered by hamstring injuries, Hanley started to nail down his spot towards the end of 2010, playing the final eight matches.He has played all nine this season - a total of 21 in all - and coach Michael Voss could not be more impressed by his development.
"He really got some momentum at the end of last year and felt like he'd just settled into that role. We always thought coming into this year he'd make a natural step up," Voss said.
"When any player has a turn of speed, and they can win their own one-on-one footy, and break lines - he does that - when we're looking to add run into our team, it's certainly enormous to have another one of those, that's for sure."
Then-Lions football manager Graeme Allan recruited Hanley after he starred at the 2006 under-17 International Rules Series in Australia.
Allan went to Hanley's hometown of Ballaghaderreen in County Mayo the following year to officially sign him.
Hanley had watched the Australian game since the age of 13 - ironically following the Lions - and continued to watch the development of fellow Irishmen Tadhg Kennelly (a premiership player with the Sydney Swans) and later Marty Clarke (who played for Collingwood before returning home).
Coming from the cold of Ireland to the blazing sunshine of Brisbane was a huge step for Hanley and he said it was initially a tough one.
But after living with welfare development manager Craig Lambert's family, then moving out with fellow Irishman Colm Begley, the jovial Hanley started feeling right at home.
"Just being away from family and friends would have been the toughest thing," he said.
"I obviously struggled at the start with training and the weather but being away from family was tough. Craig was very good and Colm had been through it all himself and he was a massive help.
"It was completely different to what I was used to back home. The weather hit me bad. I should have got some sponsorship from a sunscreen company because I was keeping them in business."
After his early troubles, no one is laughing now as Hanley's trademark run-and-bounce style has become a nice fit for a more settled Lions back six.
"At the start, you learn the basics and it's just about getting out there and playing games," he said.
"But as you get older and get a few more years into you, you can't play the Irish card any more and, if you want to play a role in the team, you have to limit your mistakes and just be another player who performs well and helps the team win.
"It's taken me about four years to do that."
Hanley said finishing last season in the AFL team gave him the belief he could mix it at the top level.
Although still prone to the odd turnover - one cost the Lions a goal against Adelaide - Hanley said he had learned to get over his errors and continue his attacking philosophy.
"That's probably the main part of my game and why I'm in the team; it's what I did growing up," he said.
"I like to take care of my opponent first, but ‘Vossy' definitely encourages it. I made a mistake at the weekend but he said ‘Keep doing it'. Vossy has been very good and he's been backing me 100 per cent.
"At the start, I was dwelling on things, but you get found out if you dwell and go into your shell."
Although his footy continues to flourish, Hanley's endeavours off-field haven't quite been so adventurous.
"I was thinking of taking up surfing but I'm awfully scared of sharks," he said. "I thought about taking guitar lessons but that fell through. I'll stick with the footy. Stick to what I know."
