Hannebery, who is among the favourites for this year’s NAB AFL Rising Star award, showed his value to the side with a 38-possession game as the Swans defeated Fremantle by nine points at Subiaco on Saturday.
The 19-year-old was selected at No.30 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft and made his senior debut in 2009 while he was still completing his Year 12 studies at Xavier College in Melbourne.
He managed seven games in his first season and has played 18 of a possible 20 games in 2010, underlining his status as one of the league’s most impressive youngsters.
Hannebery said he did not entertain any thoughts of moving clubs after a promising start to his AFL career with the Swans.
“It was really easy, really quick and there was no hesitation at all. It’s a sensational club and it’s a real privilege to be a part of it,” he said on Monday.
“As soon as the club came [to me], I was quick to jump on board straight away and I said yes.
“I had a quick chat with my manager and my dad and said to them when things were getting sorted that I didn’t want to worry about it. I just wanted to focus on my footy and do my bit for the team and the other stuff was left up to them.”
He said the opportunity to play a handful of games in his first year on the list had helped him improve in 2010, along with support and guidance from the club’s development staff Stuart Maxfield, Daniel McPherson and Dennis Carroll.
Swans coach Paul Roos said Hannebery’s performance, in what is effectively his first full-time season, had been outstanding.
“To do what he’s done in a team that’s obviously been pretty successful and made the finals… his best games have been very, very good. He hasn’t had any poor games and that’s probably been the biggest testament to him,” Roos said.
“He’s been very consistent in his first year so to get him re-signed for three years is really key to the club.
"He’s shown he’s going to be an exceptional player and he loves the club... he’s the sort of player you want around the club for 10 or 12 years.”
The experience of playing under the guidance of Roos and Brett Kirk, who will both take part in their last game at the SCG against the Western Bulldogs this weekend, also left a mark on the young midfielder.
“Being able to play with such a champion [in Kirk] has been awesome. I’ve just been trying to suck as much information out of him and get to know him as best I can,” Hannebery said.
“They’ve been two people who have really stamped themselves as greats and as heroes of the club over the last eight or nine years.
“It’s a massive game for us as a club… they’ll try and defer that a bit and try and focus more on the game but in the back of everyone’s minds, everyone’s going to have that as a bit of extra motivation going into this game.”
