Barry Hall says he has no intention of leaving the Swans at the end of the year despite speculation he could be traded or take up boxing after a controversial season at Sydney.
Hall has been suspended for a total of nine weeks in 2008, first copping a seven-week ban for his infamous punch on the West Coast’s Brent Staker and then a two-week club-enforced suspension for an attempted punch on Collingwood’s Shane Wakelin.
Those bans led to questions about Hall’s mental state and speculation about his private life making the newspapers.
The 31-year-old has been linked to a possible trade deal out of the Swans or even a new career as a boxer, but Hall says he intends to play out the final year of his contract at the club.
“I think the game, and the media scrutiny… has changed a hell of a lot, and I don’t think it’s any secret that I don’t really like that side of things, so obviously that’s got a little bit to do with things as well when I think about the future,” Hall told Fairfax.
“I’m contracted, so the plan is to obviously play, and at this stage I haven’t really thought about anything else. There’s obviously options there – and I suppose it’s nice to have a couple of options – but I haven’t really thought them through, and at this stage I’ll be lacing on the boots again.
“Recently, we approached the club about my longer-term future, beyond this contract, but we haven’t heard back yet. I guess I’ll hear back in the coming weeks, but I understand the club’s point of view, and they might want to sit and wait and see how my form and everything is going before doing anything.
“Besides the actual incidents and the games I missed, I thought my form this year has been pretty good. I still think I’ve got a lot to offer as far as footy goes, but if my form drops off I’ll be the first to put my hand up and concede I might be past it.
“I certainly understand I’ll be 32 next year, so it’s going to drop away at some stage, but I don’t think form is a real issue at this stage.”
