Dane Swan helps Hastings to victory in MPNFL Division 2

Dane Swan set the Hastings crowd alight with an eye-popping piece of play that had Ricky Nixon calling it a “lifetime first” for the champion.

Dane Swan chases Tyabb’s Will Hose. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Brownlow medalist Dane Swan kicked three goals, including one from outside 50m, to help Hastings to its second successive win on Saturday.

The former Collingwood champion, who is playing seven one-off games with clubs around Australia this season, was among the Blues’ top five or six players as they thrashed Tyabb by 81 points in Division 2 of the Mornington Peninsula league.

Swan, by request, started the game in the backline and watched Tyabb’s Will Hose kick the opening goal.

He had to wait almost 10 minutes before getting his first possession, a handball, which found its target.

A big crowd gathered at the Hastings huddle at quarter time and cheered when coach Clint Einsiedel announced that Swanny was going “on the ball’’ in the second term.

The crowd roared again when Swan slotted a goal from 50 metres as the Blues surged five goals ahead.

Dane Swan with Hastings teammates Ben King (left) and Brayde Bosman (right). Picture: Valeriu Campan

Einsiedel said Swanny, who wore jumper No. 36, was great to have around the team and offered valuable advice to the Blues young players.

A crowd of over 1500 saw Hastings win 19.7 (121) to 6.4 (40).

Swan and his manager Ricky Nixon spoke at a sportsman’s night after the game, with the former Magpie entertaining the audience with stories from his illustrious AFL career.

Nixon said the Hastings people were fantastic and Swanny was well received.

“I thought it was very well run,’’ he said.

“In fact — and I’ve been doing it for 15 years — I’d say it was definitely in the top 10 as far an organisational and the food goes…I rated it the best food ever, it was unbelievable.”

Hastings and Tyabb players line up for the national anthem and Last Post. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Nixon said Swan embraced returning to grassroots footy.

“He’s actually the best ex (AFL) player with people, he will just stay all night and take photos with them, send videos to grandparents and all that, he’s amazing,” Nixon said.

“I thought he was in the best five or six clearly even though he said it wasn’t his best game…but I haven’t seen him kick a goal from 50 metres out in his life and I also reckon he’s taken more overhead marks the last two weeks than he’s taken in his whole career.”

Nixon said Swan would play one-off games in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland in the coming months, including an appearance with Nyora in the Ellinbank & District Football League on May 21.

Swan will play with the Billabong Crows in NSW next weekend.

Hastings player Ben Schroen with the ball. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Sean Hewitt takes a kick. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hastings has won two of its opening three games and looks to be a young side on the rise.

Warragul Industrials recruit Brayde Bosman adds another dimension up forward and he kicked three goals, as did youngster Rhys Wilkinson, while Luke Hewitt and Ben Schroen kicked two apiece.

Tom Finn played his first game for the season and impressed, while Peter Mawson, Nic Xerri, Aaron Vinson and Ben King were also among the Blues’ best.

Tyabb coach Anthony Agius was fuming with his side’s lacklustre opening quarter, lashing his players for not manning up.

“That was difficult to watch,” he told them at quarter-time.