Sydney Swan Daniel Hannebery has taken home the 2010 Ron Evans Medal and written his name in the Rising Star record books.
Taken by Sydney with pick #30 in the 2008 National Draft, Hannebery chose to stay in home town Melbourne to complete his VCE studies. Daniel made his debut in round 16 of the 2009 season against Carlton and despite only gathering 6 disposals on debut Hannebery went on to play the remaining 7 games of the 2009 season.
Unfortunately for Hannebery it wasn’t his football that was putting him in the news last season. In October last year Hannebery was suspended by Melbourne’s Xavier College for his involvement in a muck-up day prank.
2010 was a different year for Hannebery, playing all but 3 games for the Swans. In round 20 the 19-year-old picked up a career high 38 disposals against the Dockers amd was rewarded with a 3 year contract extension by the Swans.
Today he becomes just the second Swan to win the award after team mate Adam Goodes won in 1999.
Hannebery polled the maximum 45 votes, followed by number 1 draft pick Tom Scully (35), Tom Rockliff (24), Jack Trengove (11), and Ryan Bastinac (6).
Despite not playing last week Hannebery is focusing on his first ever final against Carlton this Sunday.
“It is a huge honour, obviously with the company you are in when you win it,” he said.
“It hasn’t sunk in as all my focus is on Sunday.”
The Rising Star is selected by a panel of 9 members including Andrew Demetriou, Adrian Anderson, Mark Ricciuto, Kevin Bartlett, James Hird, Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich, Robert Walls and Kevin Sheehan.