Sydney young gun Daniel Hannebery has been named the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star, beating Melbourne's Tom Scully and Brisbane Lion Tom Rockliff to the prestigious award.
The 19-year-old averaged 21 possessions per game and booted nine goals in 19 matches in his second season with the Swans, having last year played seven games while still based in his hometown Melbourne as he completed high school.
Overlooked in the opening round of this season, Hannebery forced his way into the team for Round 2 and was immediately nominated for the Rising Star award after helping Sydney crush Adelaide by seven goals at AAMI Stadium.
While he was consistently one of the Swans' best throughout the year, it was arguably his performance against the Dockers at Subiaco Oval in Round 20, when he helped himself to 38 touches as his team won by nine points, that got him over the line.
Hannebery received the maximum 45 votes from judges Andrew Demetriou and Adrian Anderson from the AFL, former players James Hird, Kevin Bartlett, Mark Ricciuto, Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich and Robert Walls and highly-respected junior development guru Kevin Sheehan.
Scully received four votes each from all judges except Healy - who gave him three - to finish second on 35 votes while Rockliff claimed 24 votes and Scully's team-mate Jack Trengove (11) and North Melbourne's Ryan Bastinac (6) rounded out the top five.
The other nominees to receive votes were Carlton's Jeff Garlett (5), Docker Nathan Fyfe (3), Essendon's Michael Hurley (2), early-season favourite Nic Naitanui (2) from West Coast, Collingwood's Ben Reid (1) and Hawk Ben Stratton (1).
"It's been fun, it's been an awesome journey. I've loved every minute of it," Hannebery told reporters following the presentation.
"It is a huge honour, obviously with the company you are in when you win it. There's a lot of great players who have won it."
He said that whilst he is a Melbourne boy at heart, the anonymity and lifestyle that Sydney provides is a significant boon.
"I've obviously got strong Melbourne connections but I'm really, really happy at the Swans at the moment. Moving away from mum and dad and the family was a massive thing for me. I'm a family orientated man and I've grown up in Melbourne my life."
"But being up there's great. A few people know who you are but it's very limited. You get to live your life like any other player who's playing normal amateur footy or VFL footy. I enjoy the hot weather and the beaches… and I suppose it's great being away from this weather!"
"At the start I was a bit awestruck by walking in and seeing Goodesy (Adam Goodes) and (Brett) Kirk and (Ryan) O'Keefe and these guys but they're such good down to earth people…the people at the Swans make you feel like you belong so it's just a really enjoyable environment to be around."
He said some of his fondest football memories were of watching uncle Luke O'Sullivan play his 50th senior game in a light blue M&Ms jumper, as well as watching his dad play amateur football.
"I remember Dad's 1996 Grand Final for Old Xavs in the A Grade Ammos at Elsternwick Park. I remember dressing up in the Old Xavs Guernsey with my puma boots on and roaming around behind the goals supporting him. I think there's a photo out there of me in his arms after the game."