Dan them an for Saints
St Kilda looking to Hannebery to lead the way in final against Bulldogs
ST KILDA is confident Dan Hannebery’s body will withstand the step up to finals intensity after surviving the “calculated risk” of his comeback game a fort night ago.
Hannebery put his surgically repaired hamstring to the test in Round 18, returning ahead of schedule against GWS Giants for his first match since Round 5. The Saints plan to feed off Hannebery’s finals experience, believing his energy and instruction is just as important as his midfield role for a side playing its first finals series since 2011.
Hannebery has played only 11 matches in his two season sat St Kilda, but is a veteran of 22 finals after a decade at a perennially strong Sydney side.
“He is much better prepared for having played that (Round 18) game,” Saints chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said. “It was a calculated risk, but that gave him two weeks to prepare even better for a final.
“His energy was missed for that 6-8 weeks that he was back home getting operated on and doing his rehab, but his energy is fantastic .”
“The boys love having him around and his talk on the sidelines, his instruction … He’s got a pretty good record in finals when it gets tough and tight.”
The Saints will be without Josh Battle for Saturday’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs after he failed to overcome a foot issue.
Battle was sent for scans after reporting soreness following the win over the Giants.
He has been restricted to light duties, bike work and swimming since, but is expected to be fit for the semi-final if the Saints progress.
Zak Jones will return from a hamstring injury after flying through training this week, while Jack Lonie (knee) is set to play after getting through three-quarters of Wednesday’ s session.
Hannebery had his operation in July where orthopaedic surgeon Julian Feller reportedly found some “funky stuff” inside his ham string.
He has drawn confidence from successful similar operations performed on Jamie Elliott and Nick Riewoldt.
“(Hannebery) hasn’t done as much preparation as the other guys who are playing, but they are shortened games and you can manage players’ loads ,” Leth lean said.