Dane Swan admits he experimented with illicit drugs during career at Collingwood

FORMER Collingwood star Dane Swan has admitted taking illicit substances during his prolific AFL career at the Magpies.

Former Collingwood AFL player Dane Swan has retired and written a book. Picture: Alex Coppel.

FORMER Collingwood star Dane Swan has admitted taking illicit drugs during his AFL career at the Magpies.

In an interview with the Sunday Herald Sun, Swan, who announced his retirement two months ago, set the record straight on rumours about his life off the field.

“You show me someone who doesn’t know someone who has experimented or tried social drugs, and I will show you a liar,” Swan said.

“I have experimented with what some people call recreational drugs, but have never taken performance-enhancing drugs or what you might call ‘heavy’ drugs.”

Swan, who won the Brownlow Medal in 2011, revealed that he never failed a drug test during his career, which started at Collingwood in 2003.

Former Collingwood AFL player Dane Swan has retired and written a book about his footy career. Picture: Alex Coppel

“Not one positive test under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy, which, given the amount of times I was tested, proves that drugs have never been an issue through my career, despite what some people have implied,” the 32-year-old said.

“I am not promoting it, or encouraging it, or glorifying it ... of course I have tried drugs, but it doesn’t mean that I have a habit or a problem, it doesn’t mean that I do it every single weekend or to the extent that people have speculated about it.”

The former on-baller said he was reluctant to reveal details, but said of the alleged drug use at Collingwood: “I know my club, it was a very small amount.”

Swan retired after suffering a foot injury in the opening minutes of the 2016 season, bringing an end to his 258-game career which included winning a premiership in 2010.