ST KILDA veteran Dan Hannebery has announced his decision to retire from the AFL after an injury ravaged ending to his career.
Hannebery informed his teammates of his decision at a meeting inside RSEA Park before training on Thursday.
The 31-year-old met with St Kilda list boss James Gallagher, head of football David Rath, senior coach Brett Ratten and soon-to-be CEO Simon Lethlean to discuss his future on Tuesday before processing the decision on Wednesday.
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Hannebery will return from an ankle injury and play his final game against his former side Sydney at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The former Swan has endured a nightmare run on the injury front since crossing from Sydney to St Kilda on a lucrative four-year deal at the end of 2018.
Hannebery has only managed 17 appearances across four seasons due to recurrent calf, hamstring and groin injuries at RSEA Park, including only two games in 2022 after just two last year.
"It was always in the back of my mind what was going to happen next year. I've put in a mountain of work this year, so my focus was always on trying to get back and contribute, which I think I have," Hannebery said at a press conference on Thursday.
"Speaking to the boys this morning I think it was the first or second time I've actually said it. It hasn't really sunk in yet.
"When you go through you are just so tunnel vision thinking about the off-season and getting my body right to go again. When it comes on you it is a little bit of a shock, but obviously in the back of my mind you know it's a reality though. It's pretty tough to say."
Hannebery said the scrutiny of the trade from Sydney and the inability to remain on the park was difficult to deal at times across his four seasons at St Kilda.
"It's been a tough four years," he said. "I haven't played a lot of footy and I've certainly wanted to be out there more and give more to the team and contribute where possible. When I have played I feel like I've done that. That's been a really hard pill to swallow because I know my best footy can help the boys."
The three-time All-Australian was one of the premier midfielders in the AFL between 2012 and 2016, polling 20 or more votes in the Brownlow Medal three times, while also being named the 2015 AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year.
He played a key role in Sydney's 2012 premiership win over Hawthorn and finished tied for third in the Norm Smith Medal behind winner Ryan O'Keefe. Hannebery also won the Ron Evans Medal as the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star.
Despite another frustrating year on the sidelines that resulted in calf surgery in March and a trip to Munich mid-year to visit a renowned soft tissue guru, Hannebery showed that he can still perform at the highest level when he collected 27 disposals and kicked a goal from 63 per cent game time in an impressive return to AFL level in round 20.
Unfortunately his luckless run continued the following weekend when he was substituted out of the loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium due to an ankle injury.
While the Xavier College product didn't completely close the door on playing for a third club if an offer materialised, Hannebery said it is likely he will remain retired after a taxing conclusion to his career.
"Look to be honest, I haven't really thought about it. Right now, probably not. It's been a long couple of years. This year has been no different; it's been really trying mentally," he said.
"There are a lot of people that go through challenging times with more serious stuff than not playing footy, however it's certainly been as challenging two or three years as I've had so far. That's taken a fair bit out of me. At this stage I'm retired and I haven't put any thoughts into that regard."
Hannebery will finish his career with 226 games next to his name.
