“When I got arrested,” remarked Collingwood cult hero Dane Swan at Tuesday night’s induction ceremony, “That was fun.”
A self-proclaimed “s***head” in his junior days who rebelled against authority, Swan initially viewed AFL as all about enjoying the nightlife when he first joined the prestigious club.
“I thought playing AFL was just about getting drink cards on a Saturday night,” he recalled. “I put in minimal effort during the day and didn’t feel deserving of an AFL spot.”
“I got into trouble and thought I was going to be sacked.”
“You don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it. It’s cliché, but it rang true for me.”
Swan was arrested in 2003 after a scuffle with bouncers, his second year with Collingwood. His father, Bill Swan, a notable figure in the Victorian Football Association, advised him to walk away if he wasn’t committed to an AFL career.
Club leaders, including legendary coach Mick Malthouse, confronted Swan with harsh realities and encouraged him to repay their trust. He turned his career around, becoming a Magpies great and starring in the 2010 premiership and winning the Brownlow Medal the following year.
“I was incredibly fortunate,” he reflected. “There were many players who were better, harder workers, faster, fitter, stronger. I have no idea why they kept me; I was like a cockroach, they just couldn’t get rid of me.”
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Swan credited former teammates Chris Tarrant and Ben Johnson for guiding him. They were among the 35 guests at the induction ceremony, along with other members of Collingwood’s “rat pack” like Heath Shaw and Alan Didak.
Reflecting on his time, Swan expressed nostalgia for the camaraderie and success during their peak years. “Those years with your best mates, like the ‘rat pack’ here today, felt like they flew by,” he said. “Playing for the biggest club in the country, with a high profile, we played hard, partied hard, and had an amazing time.”
Malthouse praised Swan as one of the best big-game players of his era. Swan, ever playful, noted during his acceptance speech that he is not yet in Collingwood’s Hall of Fame.
“I guess they don’t rate me as highly as the AFL does,” he quipped. “But they know I can be bribed easily, and they bought a table for my mates tonight, so we’re even.”
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