Dane Swan honoured with Collingwood life membership along with Saverio Rocca and Ray Shaw

ONE of Collingwood’s favourite sons, Dane Swan, and two members of the club’s most famous families have been elevated to life membership.

ONE of Collingwood’s favourite sons, Dane Swan, and two members of the club’s most famous families, Ray Shaw and Saverio Rocca, were on Tuesday night elevated to life membership at the Magpies’ annual general meeting.

Swan famously fronted up to his first training session hungover after a week celebrating “schoolies” on the Gold Coast in late 2001, and rarely deviated from his maverick ways.

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It only endeared the star midfielder to black and white fans, and across 15 seasons he became one of the most loved players in the club’s history.

“This is an amazing honour, but I thought I was already in (because) I’d been a part of the 2010 flag,” Swan said.

“When I saw Ed was calling me to announce my life membership, I went through social media to check if I’d done anything wrong.”

Magpies president Eddie McGuire said Swan, 34, who retired after suffering a serious foot injury in 2016, would always hold a special place in the hearts of Magpies fans.

“Swanny was one of the players of his generation ... an incredible footballer,” McGuire said.

“But he didn’t take himself too seriously. He was the game’s loveable rogue and together, as a footballer and a figure, he was one of the most loved players of all time.”

Dane Swan was awarded Collingwood life membership. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Swan played 258 games and kicked 211 goals, winning the 2011 Brownlow Medal, three Copeland Trophies as best-and-fairest player (2008, 2009, 2010) and five consecutive All Australian selections (2009-2013), as well as top honours from both the AFL players’ and coaches’ associations.

He was Collingwood’s player of the finals series in 2010, and capped off a remarkable season with a premiership medal.

Ray Shaw played in five Grand Finals without success in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, but at least he got to see his son, Heath, play a critical role in the 2010 flag win.

He was the first of five family members to play a senior game with the Magpies — including brothers Tony and Neville and his sons Heath and Rhyce — winning a Copeland Trophy in 1978 and playing 146 games with the club.

“Among the great names in the history of Collingwood — the likes of Pannam, Richards, Collier, McHale and Coventry — sits the Shaw name,” McGuire said.

“Ray was quintessential Collingwood — proud, defiant, talented and cheeky. He played with great heart, captained our club, got achingly close to premiership glory so many times and was the first of what became the Shaw dynasty.”

Ray Shaw celebrating Collingwood’s 2010 premiership with son Heath. Picture: Colleen Petch

Saverio Rocca kicked 514 games from his 156 games for the Magpies, and is fondly remembered for his booming goals, his nine-goal haul in the first Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon in 1995, and for being the elder brother of another club great in Anthony Rocca.

“Sav was a remarkable footballer. He averaged more than three goals a game and could kick them from just about anywhere,” McGuire said.

“With Sav in the goal square, there was always great theatre in the game and the opposition were always nervous about what he could do.”

Collingwood also recognised the contributions of David Poulton and Rick Smith who were presented with special service awards for on-field contributions.

Star Collingwood forward Saverio Rocca also received life membership.