Sydney Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery inspired by his grandfather's battle with cancer Sydney midfielder Dan Hannebery with his grandparents Joan and Brian Hannebery. THE pain of watching his grandfather Brian battle cancer is driving young Swan Dan Hannebery. After another inspiring performance in Sydney's 39-point win over the Kangaroos in Hobart on Saturday, Hannebery revealed he's dedicating this season to his seriously ill grandfather. Just weeks after Hannebery and Brian celebrated the Swans' grand final win together, his grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. "I play every game like it's my last," Hannebery said. He's doing everything in his power to fight it, which inspires me to see the way he's handled it. He has been so positive. I think about him before every game. Before each game Hannebery plays, he takes a phone call from the man he calls Barney to talk footy and stuff. Brian would have liked what he saw in Hobart on Saturday, when his grandson was one of the prime movers in the Swans' 11-goal third quarter. "Barney rang me the night before the game and we chatted for about 10 minutes," Hannebery said. We just spoke about last week's game. He doesn't offer advice, we just talk. There was no one more proud than Brian when his grandson produced the game of his young career against the Hawks in the grand final. Still only 21 at the time, Hannebery was involved in three pivotal moments. The first-quarter mark in which he was smashed by Hawks ruckman David Hale has gone down in grand final history as one of the great acts of courage. The second came midway through the final quarter when he provided the goal which kept the Swans in touch when Hawthorn looked like they were about to surge to victory. And his last possession of the match was the handball to Nick Malceski for the match-winning goal. "The success we had in the grand final brought so much happiness to so many people and Barney was one of them," Hannebery said. I've never seen anyone more happy with the success the Swans were able to achieve. It's helped put a smile on his face, which makes me happier than anyone. The premiership has been the gift that just keeps giving for Brian, who has had plenty of sleepless nights because of his cancer treatment. Grand final replays have provided great therapy. "He has watched it 30 or 40 times and can recount every single moment," Hannebery said.