EFNL 2025: AFL great Dane Swan set to see season out at Oakleigh District

He’s known for his cameo appearances at local level – but one suburban club is set to score Brownlow medallist Dane Swan for the remainder of its campaign. Latest here.

EFNL 2025: Dane Swan is set to see the season out at Oakleigh District. Picture: Oakleigh District FC

What an ace to have up its sleeve.

Eastern Division 3 club Oakleigh District’s finals charge is set to be boosted by the inclusion of AFL great Dane Swan following his cameo appearance on Saturday, with the Brownlow medallist hinting post-game: “Hopefully if they’re going all right, you might see me back here in the back half of the year”.

Swan donned the black and white stripes in the Oaks’ 75th anniversary match as the club breathed life into its season with a 23.16 (154) to 3.13 (31) rout of Silvan.

The victory improved the Oaks’ record to 4-6, keeping them in touch with the top five.

While there was no confirmed date of Swan’s return, Oakleigh District playing-coach Blake Pearson said the 2010 premiership hero was likely to see the business end of the season out at Princes Highway Reserve.

The 41-year-old is great mates with Oaks’ ball magnet Luke Potts, with the pair previously playing together at St Kilda City.

“I think that’s the plan for the back end of the year at this stage – he’ll play with us,” Pearson said of Swan.

“It certainly helps when you win by 120 points … if we can get him for the remainder of the season, that would be a fantastic addition for us.”

Pearson said Swan fitted in seamlessly on Saturday.

“He was awesome,” he said.

“He clearly understands the game and was able to read the ball really well – and he just positioned himself on the ground wherever he was needed.

“The pleasing aspect was when he did that, we were able to adjust as a playing group and have some different roles for guys.”

But amid the former Collingwood star’s headline act, ex-Frankston VFL captain Luke Potts stole the show alongside Pearson.

Pearson finished with six goals while Potts had the ball on a string, giving 50 possessions a shake in a best-afield display.

“He 100 per cent would have got close to that 50-possession mark,” Pearson said.

“It’s just incredible the amount of space he seems to get and his ability to find the ball, to know where it’s going and to be in the right spot, it’s incredible.

“I think what we’re starting to do is find him a little bit more as well … we’re starting to gel a bit more as a midfield group which certainly allows him to get more on the outside.”

Pearson’s bag of goals lifted his season-total to 36 – ranked third in the competition.

“I’m happy with how I’m going so far,” he said.

Oakleigh District is away to Donvale on Saturday.