He is now though. Isn't he leading the intercept and contested mark stat?
Need clarification here.
Over breakfast this morning I read the stats column. Hansen played 95% of the game time. More than any other North player. Incidentally Ziebell played 74% and Cunnington 67%. Not only are those boys getting bigger tanks now...but they're influencing the game more.
I don't think Hansen was ever lazy. I think he was just misused. He's said since he was drafted that he preferred playing CHB. The club kept moving him around. He kicked 20 goals in 12 games up forward last year. And if memory serves, he kicked the first goal in some of our big wins (Essendon, St Kilda, Collingwood I think). He's done what he's been asked to do for the most part.
My point with the game time is that he's an elite runner. Scott kept saying that about him in the last few years. The club was looking at his game stats in terms of kilometers covered, heart rate, etc and they knew he was working and running. They just didn't have him the right spot.
Hansen's cardio and aerobic fitness lasts over the whole match. He's going to be beaten in a lot of foot races, although he looks faster this year. But I think what you're seeing this year is that if he can run, read the play, take contested marks, and do it for four quarters with his big tank, he's going to pants a lot of his opponents and do his part to help the club win. What's not to like about that?
He also looks stronger over the ball (core strength) and less fumbly this year. That could just be physical maturity (or general maturity) Or it could be confidence because he's finally playing in the spot he was drafted in. Just saying.