Ex-Collingwood superstar Dane Swan opens up about his infamous 2003 arrest and AFL career

Former Collingwood champ Dane Swan has revealed that his footy career would not have reached the heights it did if it hadn’t been for his 2003 arrest.

Dane Swan says his arrest in 2003 was a blessing in disguise. Picture: David Caird

Former Collingwood champ Dane Swan has revealed that his footy career would not have reached the same heights — a premiership and a Brownlow among the accolades — if it hadn’t been for his 2003 arrest.

The outspoken former Magpie said his arrest after he and his mates were involved in the assault of a security guard in Federation Square, was “probably the best thing” that happened to him.

“I got in trouble as a kid when I got arrested … it’s not for everyone being arrested, but it probably was the best thing that happened to me,” he said.

“Because it was the moment I decided I wanted to actually have a go at AFL.

“I was just partying all the time, then I got arrested on the last training session that night before Christmas, and that’s when I got told I was going to be sacked.

“The arrest cost me 250 grand — with the legal fees and what I had to pay out civilly. I was still paying for it 10 to 12 years afterwards.

“But in the end, it was a blessing for me. If that hadn’t happened, I probably would have gotten sacked a year or two later, and I would have never been heard of again.”

Dane Swan spoke about his upbringing at Westmeadows to Craigieburn Secondary College Business Academy students. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Swan said the cliche “you don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone” rang true for him.

But thanks to his footy mentors who believed in him and did not want one “stuff up” to ruin his career, he could snap back into the game.

“Maybe it was because I was from a low socio-economic area or mixed scene, something immediately told them I could be a decent player … so I was given a chance,” he said.

“The ball of momentum then just slowly started to roll, and I slowly got stronger, better and faster, and got a lot more game time.”

Dane Swan says he transplanted his skills as a professional footballer into his entrepreneurial career. Picture: Sarah Reed

Speaking to Craigieburn Secondary College’s Year 12 Business Academy students, Swan also revealed that playing in the AFL wasn’t his “dream” growing up.

“It’s probably because I wasn’t told I was going to play AFL because I wasn’t a great junior,” he said.

“I was lucky I got drafted when I did because I didn’t have much thought on what I was going to do after school.

“I was lucky I did get drafted, but I nearly wasted that chance early on. I wasn’t a great kid when it came to thinking about my future.

“My dad said I was drafted too young. I got drafted at 17 — I was too immature.”

Dane Swan says his determination and ability to tune out critics helped him get his head back in the game. Picture: David Caird

Swan said if he could go back in time to the first three months of his footy career, he would tell his younger self “to try and put in some work ethic”.

“I basically wasted the first four or five years of my AFL career.”

But Swan said instead of running away from his problems, he “copped it”.

“I said I deserve it, but I am not going to let this be the making of me … and thankfully, it worked out for me,” he said’

“You just have to brush the criticism, and as long as the people you care about have no problem with you — well, that’s all that matters.”