Hanley’s parents pop over for 150th
A PLANNED quick trip to England has been replaced by an around-the-world voyage for Pearce Hanley’s parents who will watch the Irishman play his 150th AFL game on Sunday against Adelaide.
The Suns defender’s Ireland-based father Andrew and mother Natalie had to scrap plans to visit Hanley’s sister in England in favour of seeing the 30-year-old reach the milestone at Adelaide Oval in his 12th season in the AFL.
“I’ve got my parents flying over. They haven’t been to too many games but I’m excited to have them here,” Hanley said.
“They were initially going to Manchester to see my sister but the 150 games crept up on us so they changed their plans.”
Hanley has played all four games this season, giving the family plenty of time to book flights, but the fact the Suns vice-captain hasn’t that many consecutive games together since the middle of 2017 could have left them opting to show caution considering the length of the journey.
Hanley is one of the most damaging halfbacks when fit but he has battled with his body for the best part of five years, only managing to play more than 13 games once in that period.
That was a 22-game spell in 2016 in his final year at the Brisbane Lions before his move to Gold Coast.
It has made his ability to reach 150 games even greater.
“I have been in the stage of managing my body for the last five years unfortunately,” Hanley said.
“Some players can get through and play every year but unfortunately that hasn’t been me.
“I have been micromanaging my body for a long time.
“I have had a full pre-season and had a bit of luck go my way (this year). “
Suns coach Stuart Dew praised the resilience of the former Gaelic footballer who made the switch to AFL when he joined the Lions in 2007, two years after drawing the attention of scouts for his effort in the 2005 International Rules Series.