Dane Swan

Dane Swan
Dane Swan kicking for goal in 2008 at the MCG
Personal information
Full name	Dane Swan
Date of birth	(1984-02-25) 25 February 1984
Place of birth	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Original team	Calder Cannons (TAC Cup)
Draft	#58, 2001 National Draft, Collingwood
Height/Weight	185 cm / 93 kg
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Collingwood
Number	36
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2003–	Collingwood	219 (179)
International team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
2010	Australia	2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2013 season.
Career highlights
Joseph Wren Memorial Trophy 2003 Collingwood premiership player 2010 Brownlow Medal 2011 Copeland Trophy 2008, 2009, 2010 Leigh Matthews Trophy 2010 All-Australian Team 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Herald Sun Player of the Year 2009, 2010 Bob Rose-Charlie Sutton Medal 2009 AFLCA Champion Player of the Year 2010 Lou Richards Medal 2010 Bob Rose Trophy 2010, 2013 International Rules: Jim Stynes Medallist 2010 AFL ANZAC Medal 2012

Dane Swan (born 25 February 1984) is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).^[1] Swan was drafted at number 58 in the 2001 AFL Draft, and made his debut two years later. Despite having a slow start to his career, being unable to hold down a spot in the side for the bulk of his first three seasons, Swan has since become recognised as one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era. Since his breakout season in 2007, Swan has become a premiership player, a Brownlow Medallist, a three-time Copeland Trophy recipient, and a five-time All-Australian, and in 2010, won the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. Swan known as a "Disposal Magnet" and a "Prolific Ball Winner" currently averages 26.92 disposals over his whole career (Stated at the end of 2013) which is number 1 in the AFL since stats were recorded, narrowly averaging 0.04 more disposals than Greg Williams.

Early life

Swan was born in Melbourne to Billy and Deidre Swan. He is a direct descendent of Thomas Flanagan, an Irish convict transported to Australia in 1849.^[2] His father Billy Swan played 302 games with Port Melbourne and Williamstown from 1976–1993.^[3]

He grew up playing junior football for the Westmeadows Football Club in the Essendon District Football League, and attended St. Bernard's College in Essendon before playing his under 18 football with the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup.

Swan's performances at the Calder Cannons were ordinary and he was perceived by some recruiters to be a larrikin with questionable kicking accuracy and work ethic,^[4] however Collingwood showed an interest in him as a potential late maturer in the mould of his father^[5] and took him at the relatively low draft pick (#58) in the 2001 AFL Draft.

Career

Swan made his debut in June 2003 at the age of 19,^[3] though he only played three games (against Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Essendon).^[1] Swan managed just 30 games in his first four seasons in the system at Collingwood, and although he played some solid football in that time, was not regarded as outstanding.

In 2006, he broke through, played 21 games and finished sixth in the EW Copeland Trophy voting. Swan mainly rotated through the midfield and moved forward when required. His first nine weeks were productive, averaging nearly 26 disposals and kicked 15 goals, before a hamstring injury suffered against Brisbane in round ten sidelined him until round 13.

2007 was considered his breakout season as he placed fourth in the Copeland Trophy and was a surprise packet at the Brownlow, leading for most of the night before finishing sixth with 20 votes.

2008

The 2008 Copeland Trophy winner had a strong year averaging 25 disposals, seven marks, three tackles and one goal a game. Swan led the team in total disposals (590) and kicks (368), second in marks (163), and third in handballs (222) and tackles (75). He had 14 games of 25 possessions or more and kicked two or more goals on six occasions. Round 10 against West Coast was one of Swan’s best collecting 34 possessions, 10 marks and two goals. In round 14 against Sydney, he had 30 touches and 13 marks.

2009

In the 2009 AFL Premiership Season, Swan averaged 31.8 disposals, 7.8 marks, 3.0 tackles and 5.4 inside 50s per game. He is one of the AFL's most prolific ball winners, along with being an in-and-under specialist winning the contested ball at most stoppages whilst also running hard.

In Collingwood's 2009 round 10 clash against Port Adelaide Swan obtained 48 possessions, 22 kicks and 26 handballs.^[1] This was the best disposal count in a decade and was then the third highest recorded disposals count in one match, behind Greg Williams' 53 and Tony Shaw's 50. It was a record since the length of game quarters was shortened from 25 minutes to 20 minutes in 1994, until surpassed in Round 22 2011 by Adelaide's Scott Thompson (51 disposals).

He was ranked 3rd in Total Inside 50s, 4th in Total Goal Assists, 1st in Total Kicks, 14th in Total Handballs, 1st in Total Disposals, 10th in Total Marks, 5th in Inside 50s Per Game, 13th in Goal Assists Per Game, 2nd in Kicks Per Game, 2nd in Disposals Per Game. He was voted runner up at the AFLPA MVP awards (poling 584 votes), losing to Gary Ablett (688). He was regarded as one of the front runners for the Brownlow Medal, but finished outside the top ten.

Swan was selected in the 2009 All-Australian side, but controversially as a half forward flanker, rather than as a midfielder, which is his usual position.^[6]

2010

Swan averaged 31.8 disposals, including 19 kicks per game. On 6 September, Swan won the AFL Players Association MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy) after a vote of the players. That year he was also elected as the ruck-rover for the AFL All-Australian Team. His very consistent season was a cornerstone to Collingwood's 15th Premiership, to the point of having his tattoos referenced on the Herald Sun Premiership Poster. Swan finished third in the Brownlow Medal count, having started favourite. On 31 October in the International Rules Series he won the Jim Stynes Medal. At the conclusion of the season, Swan became only the fourth ever Collingwood player to win three consecutive Copeland Trophies.^[7]

2011

With Swan's contract at Collingwood due to expire at the end of 2011, there was much pre-season media speculation over a possible move to new AFL club Greater Western Sydney.^[8] This was put to rest during the lead-up week to the season's commencement when Collingwood announced that Swan had signed a new three-year deal, committing him to the club until the end of 2014.^[9] Swan started 2011 in the same good form as 2010. He attained 40 disposals in Round 2 against North Melbourne but sustained a quad injury close to the midway point of the season and his form deteriorated. Collingwood decided to send Swan, with team mates Brent Macaffer, Darren Jolly and Nathan Brown, to a high altitude training camp in Arizona in an attempt to help the players recover faster from their individual injuries. The trip proved effective for Swan, with an immediate effect on his playing performances. In the next six games after his return, he had an average of 35.33 disposals per game with a strong effort against Essendon with 45 possessions and one goal. He later won the 2011 Brownlow Medal with 34 votes - the most recorded in a count since the 3-2-1 system came into effect.^[10]

2012

Swan received some criticism early on in the 2012 season and was accused of being unfit and "too fat".^[11] In the annual Anzac Day clash, Swan won his first Anzac Day medal as best on ground after a one point win over Essendon, with 42 possessions, three goals and six tackles during the game.^[12] Swan missed two games midway through the season due to a hamstring injury, then returned for the Queen's Birthday clash in Round 11 against the Melbourne, where he finished with a game high 42 possessions. Strong performances over the following two months saw Swan rise in the Brownlow Medal betting, to become one of the favourites behind Jobe Watson, Scott Thompson and Gary Ablett Jr. Swan was later found to have broken a pledge made by the playing group to abstain from drinking alcohol for the remainder of the season. He was suspended for two games as a result. Swan had over 40 disposals in 6 different games, reaching a new career high of 49 against Hawthorn in the round 17 loss, he also didnt have below 25 disposals showing how consistant he was. Swan over the home and away season averaged 35.66 disposals (career high and AFL record since stats were recorded) and 1.2 goals a game. Despite missing 4 home and away games Swan still finished 4th on the Brownlow medal count and averaged more votes per game than anyone else in the top 10.

^[13] Swan finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal, and was named on the bench in the All-Australian, his fourth selection in his career.^[14]

2013

Swan started the season in usual outstanding fashion, averaging 30 possessions in the first 3. In round 4, Swan played his 200th AFL game against an unbeaten Richmond, producing an almost best on ground performance (35 disposals, 6 marks and 1 goal) and was only bettered by teammate Travis Cloke, who kicked a career best 7 goals.^[15] At the end of the year Swan averaged 31.2 disposals, 5.7 marks, 3.4 tackles, and 5.2 inside 50s per game. He finished first in overall disposals, and equal 7th in total inside 50s. Swan was selected as Ruck-Rover in the 2013 All-Australian Team, the fifth consecutive year he has been included. Swan finished third in the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes, losing by two to the winner Gary Ablett, and one to second placed Joel Selwood.

Controversy

In 2003, Swan was arrested with two others following a brawl at Federation Square in which a security guard was knocked unconscious.^[16] Swan was charged with 13 offences, including assault, affray and intentionally causing serious injury.^[17] Swan was convicted of affray and ordered to perform 100 hours community service. The victim sued his three assailants and in a settlement, $100,00 was paid by the three offenders. In an interview in 2010, Swan detailed how close the incident came to ending his football career. Coach Mick Malthouse gave him a second chance, believing that Swan did not deserve to have his career derailed because of one stupid decision.^[18][19]

In July 2010, Swan was hit in the mouth at a nightclub.^[20]

In August 2012, Swan received an internal two-match suspension from the Collingwood senior team for breaking team rules – specifically, a pledge by the playing group to abstain from alcohol between late July and the end of the season.^[21]

References

External links

• Dane Swan's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
• Dane Swan's statistics from AFL Tables

v t e Australian squad – 2010 International Rules Series Captain: Goodes Banfield Betts Boyd Cross Dangerfield Duffield Fletcher Frawley Gibbs Gilbert Goldsack Green Ibbotson Jack McVeigh Montagna Riewoldt Simpson Swan Varcoe Wojcinski Picken Coach: Malthouse