Dane Swan — AFL legend or pub baron of Australia?

Enjoying the sweet life after footy, Dane Swan is on his way to becoming a pub baron — and it seems to be a common trajectory for retired athletes.

Former Collingwood great Dane Swan is on his way to becoming a pub baron. Picture: Scott Ehle

Years of ‘market research’ enjoying Melbourne’s night-life during his playing days has paid off for former Collingwood great Dane Swan, who is on his way to becoming a pub baron.

All that off-field time spent indulging in Melbourne’s after dark hospitality offerings when he was a high flying Magpie has ended up with Swan having a sharp working knowledge of what people want in a pub.

Swan is a partner in two venues in Melbourne as well as Playzone on Cavill Avenue in the heart of the Gold Coast.

His latest investment is in a Brisbane bar on Caxton street, just a drop punt from Suncorp Stadium.

“It will be opening just before the start of the Rugby League season in February,” Swan said.

“I’m involved in The Osborne in South Yarra and The Union on Chapel Street (in Windsor), which we’ll do up in the early part of next year, and then there is Playzone on Cavill Avenue where all the mayhem is.

Australia’s biggest sports legends took over the small NSW town of Sofala on Wednesday. Picture: Scott Ehler

“Things are going pretty well. I don’t have any other skills, the one skill I had (other than footy) is being good at being in a bar and pub, so I was like ‘I might as well translate that into some business.’

“I’ve obviously got some great people around me who know what they’re doing, thankfully, because I don’t.

“To be fair, I guess, because of the way I carried on a bit off the field when I was playing, that put me in a position to have these businesses because I used to go out and basically I knew a lot of people in the night-life industry.

“I probably wouldn’t have had those networks and relationships if I had towed the AFL line and stayed inside, so it’s all worked out, thankfully.”

He was previously an investor in The Albion Hotel in South Melbourne.

Damien Oliver was among sports legends who took over the small NSW town of Sofala on Wednesday. Picture: Scott Ehler

Swan was among a host of sporting greats including Steve Waugh, David Boon, Damien Oliver, Alex Volkanovski and Buddy Franklin, who took over the small NSW town of Sofala last week to promote the new Kia Tasman ute.

“I was basically like a fan there with the cricketers that I watched growing up and (UFC fighter) Volkanovski who I love watching fight and so many other wonderful sportsmen,” he said.

Each sporting great was assigned a ‘business’ in the town for the night. Swan’s was called ‘Dane’s Party Supplies.’

“I guess I’m probably in the campaign for my off-field ability more so than my on-field ability, but you know what, I’ll take it,” he said.

“If I can be part of that group of wonderful sports men and women, because I’ve got a few bars and pubs, why not?”