Dane Swan’s career in limbo after scans confirm broken bones in foot including Lisfranc fracture

DANE Swan’s career could be over after scans revealed the Magpies star has broken three bones in his foot, including a debilitating Lisfranc fracture.

Collingwood's Dane Swan goes down injured during AFL match Sydney Swans v Collingwood at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

DANE Swan’s career could be over after scans revealed the Magpies star has broken three bones in his foot, including a debilitating Lisfranc fracture.

Collingwood on Monday night confirmed the damage in Swan’s right foot was severe — potentially ending his season and his 258-match career.

The Brownlow medallist also fractured his fibula in a collision with Swan Zak Jones in the 80-point loss to Sydney on Saturday night.

Richmond great Matthew Richardson said it was harder to recover from his Lisfranc injury in 2000 than his anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in 1995, while Geelong’s Mitch Clark was also seriously hampered by the injury.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said the earliest Swan could return was late in the season.

“Swanny’s had scans and he’s got three broken bones in his foot and he’s got the Lisfranc injury, which is not a great one,” Buckley said.

“He will get the recommendations from surgeons over the next couple of days. We’ll wait for the swelling to go down but he will need an operation and we’ll know about a timeline on the back of that.

“It’ll be late (in the season) if he was to come back, so we’re about his welfare and looking after him in the short-term … (so he) gives himself the best chance to get himself right.”

There are a few concerns for the Pies.

With fellow midfielder Steele Sidebottom offered a two-week suspension for his high bump on Sydney midfielder Dan Hannebery, Buckley could be forced to make up to five changes for the club’s clash against Richmond on Friday night.

Full-back Nathan Brown is nursing a sore hamstring and had precautionary scans yesterday, defender Marley Williams will be tested on a knock to the knee and Jarrod Witts could make way for fellow ruckman Brodie Grundy.

Defender Ben Reid is in line to make his return from soft-tissue problems and recruits Jeremy Howe and James Aish are also likely to earn a call-up for the MCG match.

Aish kicked three goals in a VFL practice match and Reid was among several well-performed Magpies in that game.

Swan has indicated this could be his last season, depending on how close he felt the Pies were to a premiership at season’s end.

Richmond is likely again to be without key midfielder Brett Deledio (quad) on Friday, while Shane Edwards has been ruled out with a wrist injury. Shaun Grigg could be in the mix to return after surgery this month on a broken thumb.

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