Retired Collingwood champion Dane Swan says his injured foot will never be the same again

RETIRED Collingwood champion Dane Swan says he must overcome the fear his foot might “smash into a thousand pieces” if he tries to kick a football.

Dane Swan. Picture: Michael Klein

RETIRED Collingwood champion Dane Swan says he must overcome the fear his foot might “smash into a thousand pieces” if he tries to kick a football.

Swan, 32, confirmed his retirement on Tuesday after 258 games.

The 2011 Brownlow medallist suffered a career-ending foot injury — fractured leg, Lisfranc ligaments ruptured and pulled from the bone — in Round 1.

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Swan came to the decision to retire about three weeks ago.

“I just couldn’t trust my foot to go around any more,” Swan said.

“In my heart I wanted to go on, but I think my head knew that I couldn’t go on.”

Limited only to light running on an anti-gravity treadmill, Swan hasn’t kicked a football since Zak Jones fell across his foot in a marking contest at the SCG in March.

“Feels like if I kick a footy my foot would smash into a thousand pieces,” Swan said.

Dane Swan has retired from the AFL. Picture: Michael Klein

“The surgeon assures me that won’t happen, but it’s probably a mental block I’ve got to get over.”

The five-time All-Australian will have the pins in his foot removed in October.

“The surgeon says it’s never going to be the same again,” Swan said.

“In the cold, waking up out of bed, I sort of walk with a little bit of a loser’s limp for a little bit but then it sort of comes all right.”

Swan said he was wary of trying to get back and not being able to do what he and the coaches wanted him to do.

“I’d rather die a hero than live long enough to become the villain, so I’d much rather go out sort of on top a little — or not on top — before my form dropped off.”

Swan is expected to lodge an application for around $400,000 compensation from the AFL because his career was ended by injury in the final year of his contract.

The 32-year-old is eligible for 50 per cent of his base salary for 2016 under the collective bargaining agreement.

During an hour-long retirement spectacular, Swan thanked premiership coach Mick Malthouse, former Pies Chris Tarrant and Ben Johnson for “saving my career”.

Swan was almost sacked in 2003 after he and others were involved in a vicious brawl in Federation Square that led to him ultimately receiving a community service order.

“(I) didn’t really care about footy, just thought I was doing what all my 18-year-old mates were doing and trying to fit in an AFL career which was going nowhere,” Swan said.

Retiring Dane Swan with the premiership cup. Picture: Getty Images

“(Thought) I was going to be sacked, and then I realised … for all the whingeing and moaning that I do about AFL — I’ll never have a better job in my life.”

Tarrant and Johnson showed Swan the work ethic required to play at the top level.

“There’s no doubt without that I was gone, I had no idea how hard it was to be an AFL player,” Swan said.

“I can’t thank them enough so I probably owe them a beer now I’m retired.”