Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan won’t play for Waratah this weekend but is still keen to play in the NTFL in the future

Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan will not play for Waratah this weekend, but the former Collingwood star is still keen to play in the NTFL.

BROWNLOW Medallist Dane Swan will not play for Waratah this weekend due to a self-inflicted hand injury, but the former Collingwood star is still keen to play in the NTFL in the future.

Swan suffered a gruesome hand injury while on a night out in Sydney on the weekend for which he was forced to seek emergency help for.

The five time All Australian was forced to get 12 stitches to cover the gash and will miss his long awaited NTFL debut for Waratah as a result.

“I hurt it and had to go to the emergency,” Swan told his Hump Day with Swanny and Friends podcast.

“I didn’t want to but my friend told me, ‘Dane I think that hand needs to be looked at’. I was having such a good time, I was like, no thanks. I went there and was waiting there for ages.

“I had a very good weekend up until about 3am. Gee, I felt sorry for myself flying home hungover and he had to stick needles into the open wound. Probably one of the more painful experiences of my life.”

He will instead be heading to the United States sooner than expected to meet up with his partner Taylor Wilson and their son, Tate.

Swan is likely to stay in America until at least February but has already stated his interest to still play a game with Waratah when the right time comes.

Waratah president Rohan Langworthy said that while it was unfortunate not to get the 2011 Brownlow Medallist this week the club were still keen to have him play sometime in the future.

“It’s a bit unfortunate, a freak accident, but we’re still hopeful we can get him at some point later this season, if not next season,” Langworthy said.

“He’s committed to the club though and is still keen to come up and play a game for us. We will just have to work out the right time for him and for us for that to happen.

“Right now he’s going to spend some time with family which is understandably more important.

“As a club we’re still excited about what’s happening with the team being top of the table, and we’re looking ahead to bringing a really good home game.

“There’s still plenty of reason to come down to Gardens Oval this weekend with plenty of games and a great atmosphere to be had.”

Waratah currently sit top of the NTFL ladder after a decisive 11.9 (75) to 3.11 (29) round 9 win over Palmerston Magpies at Cazalys Arena.

Originally published as Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan won’t play for Waratah this weekend but is still keen to play in the NTFL in the future