THE Leongatha Football Netball Club has further enhanced its reputation as a ‘football factory’ for the AFL with another of its favourite sons, Tom Hanily, being named to make his debut for the Sydney Swans in Friday night’s opening match of the season at the SCG.
Hanily played all his junior football locally, in the Under 16s and Under 18s with Leongatha, interupted by the COVID years but showing enough to get his chance at Gippsland Power in 2022 and 2023 while also playing games for the Parrots as well.
After a stellar year for Gippy Power in 2023, he was some sort of chance of getting drafted that year but ultimately returned as an 18-year-old in 2024 to go through the Vic Talent Pathway Program. Four Gippy Power games followed and two Vic Talent games as well, against Vic Country and Vic Metro before the mid-seaason rookie draft came around in May 2024.
It was then that Hanily was selected with pick 14 by the Sydney Swans, among only 19 players added to AFL list.
It was the same draft in which Wonthaggi Power forward Jack Hutchinson was taken as pick three.
Here’s what the Swans said of their selection at the time: “Hanily is a 179cm midfield/forward who has averaged 25 disposals from his four games with Gippsland in 2024. The Xavier College graduate was unlucky to be overlooked in last year’s National Draft but has shrugged off that disappointment to star for Gippsland and the ‘Young Guns’ so far this season. From Inverloch, located 150km south-east of Melbourne, Hanily moved to NSW following the draft in the pursuit of AFL at the highest level. His first taste of senior footy was during the AAMI Community Series pre-season match against the Gold Coast SUNS with 13 disposals, three tackles and two clearances.”
Tom Hanily went on to play nine games with the Swans VFL team in 2024 while he worked at his small forward craft, one of the hardest roles in modern-day footy, and impressed new coach Dean Cox enough duringn the pre-season to earn a call up in round one.
Coach of Gippsland Power Rhett McLennan said the organisation couldn’t be happier that another Gippsland Power player is getting their chance at AFL level.
“He’s always been able to go out there and get a kick but what is a real credit to him is the way he’s been able to focus on that role that’s likely to get him a game at the top level, as a small forward, and really work hard on honing his skills in that area,” said McLennan.
“He’s got great foot skills and is a reliable kick for goal within his range but he’s also got a great aerobic capacity where he can put pressure on the defenders coming out, use his defensive skills there but also get back up forward again to have a real impact there.
“We’re just rapt as an organization to have played some part in that and to see the success of a guy being reintroduced at the under 19 age group, to go again, and work hard and to get his chance after being taken in the mid-season draft.
“And to be able to come up the next year and be selected in round one is a real credit to him, not so much to make the most of what he has got, but to really work hard on those skills that are going to give him his chance, work smarter, not only harder if you like, and that’s what he’s been able to do.”
Speaking to Swans media, Tom Hanily, said he thought his chance might not come until further into the season after suffering a setback during preseason with a quad injury but he was delighted all the same to get the nod from the new coach.
“Yeah, I had no idea, but yeah, it's just as good as draft night, really, just to be able to run out here in front of the Blood's faithful, but also with that bunch of boys. Looking forward to it. But yeah, for just the trust of Coxy and the coaching staff, I’ll be forever grateful,” said Tom in response to how he greeted the news of his selection.
Speaking to Swans media, he said the coach asked him, in the huddle of players, about his journey, about what he’d done over the past eight months, seeking out and absorbing information from coaches and fellow players about how to improve and to play his specific role.
“Just trying to learn where possible, I guess.”
And the setbacks along the way have only made the feeling of being selected for his first game all the more special.
“Yeah, it's pretty cool, pretty awesome.”
And what about accommodating family and friends trying to get up to the game at short notice?
“Oh, mate, I don't know. I'll just tell mum and dad first and see what happens. But yeah, hopefully, there's a few seats on the plane so they can come up here. So, yeah, looking forward to it. Really looking forward to it.”
Of course, the Hanily clan, including parents Mick and Veronica, were on the first plane to Sydney and will be there for the season opener but quite a few others have either flown up or driven up to support Tom taking the next big step in his footy career.
“You’re in, fantastic, I suppose you’re taping this, lucky I didn’t swear,” said Mick Hanily when he heard the news by phone.
“Well done, Tom. That’s incredible news. Dad’s sitting here having a heart attack. So excited for you. You deserve it, you’ve done all the hard work,” said mum Ronnie.
Tom will share the limelight with 250-gamer Jake Lloyd and Ben Paton ex-Saints also making his debut for the Swans.
