Collingwood's Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan is set to play on beyond 2014 under Nathan Buckley

COLLINGWOOD'S Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan is set to play on beyond 2014 under Magpies coach Nathan Buckley.

COLLINGWOOD superstar Dane Swan will postpone early retirement plans and play on beyond next season under coach Nathan Buckley.

Swan controversially flagged intentions to bow out of AFL when his contract expires at the end of next season aged 30, boldly declaring "that will be the end of me".

But Swan's manager, Liam Pickering, said last night the three-time Copeland Trophy winner's form was too good to contemplate leaving the game.

"I wouldn't have thought, with the form that he is in, that he would actually be retiring at 30," Pickering said on Fox Footy's SuperCoach Show. "He will play on, I have got no doubt."

The Pies were forced to defend criticism about the Brownlow edallist's lifestyle earlier in the year amid reports the club should consider trading him.

But the 29-year-old, who tops the league's possession count, has delivered for Buckley since switching back into a more permanent midfield role in Round 10.

Over the past six weeks, Swan has returned to his scintillating best, averaging 35 possessions a game.

Even with Greater Western Sydney dangling the No.1 draft pick as trade bait, Pickering said Swan was going nowhere.

"I wouldn't think so," Pickering said.

"The form that he is in, he is so important to his team.

"He is having a terrific year. I wouldn't think that (a trade) would be an option at all."

Swan sent shock waves through the Collingwood camp last year when he said his current deal would be his last.

"I will play out my contract and, at the moment, I think that will be the end of me," Swan told the Herald Sun.

"I am not going to be one of those people who plays until they get sacked."