With his first game for Gold Coast behind him, Pearce Hanley has opened up about the physical struggles he endured in his final two seasons with the Brisbane Lions.
Hanley made his SUNS debut on Sunday – against the Lions – and showed some of the flair and poise that had him on the cusp of an All Australian selection in 2014.
That one game alone was a far cry from anything he produced in 2016.
The problems for the Irishman began just on two years ago when he underwent a hip operation.
He hasn't been the same since.
It culminated with, by his own admission, a poor 2016 and a move 70km down the Pacific Highway to the SUNS.
Hanley didn't make excuses last year. In fact, he went into his shell.
But with a full pre-season behind him and a fresh start, the 28-year-old says he can now see the hip injury took a toll.
"I think I under-estimated the affect my hip operations had on me," Hanley told AFL.com.au.
"It definitely took me a lot longer to get over them."
Hanley admits he still has some improving to do to be in peak condition for round one, but says a healthy body has allowed him to train so much better than the past two years.
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"I'm able to train how I play, whereas last year, although I didn't feel my hips, I had an ankle injury as well which didn't help, so that stopped me from training," he said.
"Game day I looked sluggish and I felt sluggish. I feel much better this year and I've trained how I want to play and that's with intensity and I'm going to show that this year."
Hanley had 19 disposals (at 74 per cent efficiency) and five tackles against the Lions.
His highlight was undoubtedly kicking his first goal in SUNS colours, one in which he baulked around former housemate Claye Beams before slotting home neatly from close range.
"I might have mentioned that to him, that he should have known better after living with me for four years," Hanley said with a cheeky smile.
"I guess it was wrong place, wrong time for Claye. It was good to get a goal in my first game."
