Dane Swan: Former Collingwood champ plays for Ararat Eagles

Country footy’s gun for hire season is in overdrive with Dane Swan and other former AFL players club-hopping around the state, before the June 30 clearance window shuts.

Country footy’s gun for hire season is again in overdrive with Collingwood champion Dane Swan and other former AFL players club-hopping around the state before the June 30 clearance window shuts for another year.

Traditionalists have long cringed at a player lining up for multiple teams in the same year.

But clubs, which are generally positioned closer to the bottom of the ladder than the top, are reportedly paying players with recent elite-level experience up to $4000 per match for one-off appearances.

Ararat Eagles “recruit” Dane Swan battles with Great Western’s Nick Costello for the ball on Saturday. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The 2011 Brownlow medallist played at his third country club this season on Saturday when he lined-up for Ararat Eagles, helping the club to a 63-point win over Great Western.

His presence again guaranteed a bumper crowd and a cash injection for the club.

But it’s not only the Magpie fan favourite being sought out by clubs.

The 2010 No. 2 national draft pick, Harley Bennell, has just played for three clubs in eight days.

After a one-off match for Wahgunyah last year alongside Jason Akermanis and Jared Brennan, Bennell returned on April 20 and booted six goals to help it end a 40-match losing streak.

Five days later he failed to have the same impact for Wodonga Raiders and last Saturday, Bennell played for Melton South along with two other former AFL players, Jeff Garlett and Sam Darley, who also played on Anzac Day.

Clubs that recruit former AFL players for one-off games receive no salary cap or player points concessions as will be the case when the 2024 Carlton Draft crop of Matthew Lloyd, Dyan Buckley, Isaac Smith, Trent Cotchin and Leigh Montagna start playing.

Brendan Fevola and Barry Hall after the 2012 Ovens & Murray match between Yarrawonga and Wangaratta Rovers.

But the difference in gate-takings between a game involving an ex AFL player and a regular home and away game can be upwards of $5000.

The gun for hire market exploded when Brendan Fevola joined Yarrawonga in 2012.

In addition to his Yarrawonga appearances, Fevola was released to play a string of one-off games for other clubs.

An O&M rival, Myrtleford, even paid Fevola $3000 to play against it to boost the struggling club’s coffers.

Fevola delivered with a big crowd watching the former Carlton and Brisbane star boot 12 goals.

But the arrangement didn’t sit well with everyone.

Adrian Villella, a Myrtleford committeeman at the time, said he didn’t like it “one little bit”.

He remains strongly against clubs bringing in players for one-off appearances even though the Saints have booked Gary Ablett Junior to play this year.

“The only justification is they do put more bums on seats,” Villella said.

“But it’s still not right.”

Fevola played country footy in an era before the player points system and salary cap.

Clubs going down the same path today must ensure their import’s points don’t put the team above their limit and the match payment fits into the salary cap.

Dane Swan played a four-pointer against Great Western on Saturday. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Swan has played at Tyrendarra, Tallangatta and Ararat Eagles as a four-point player because he has been out of the AFL system for more than three years and doesn’t play at major league level which attracts more points.

O&M Hall of Famer Peter Tossol, who was part of a successful push to introduce the player points system statewide in the mid-2010s, said a review was needed given the proliferation of players hopping between clubs without major penalty.

“I’m not sure the ‘travelling invitational player’ was ever catered for, or considered in the development of the system,” he said.

“It has really grown over the past few years and flies in the face of ‘growing your own’.

“I would be in favour of allocating maximum points for these type of players.”

But Ararat Eagles president Josh Taurau said Swan’s appearance had been eagerly anticipated for weeks and his points easily fitted under the club’s cap.

“We’re a small country club and not many people get to see an ex AFL star play in our league,” Taurau said.

“He’s probably one of the most well-known players of our generation.

“You’d be stupid not to take up the chance if you’re not putting anyone out.

“My nephew for instance, who is a mad Collingwood supporter, couldn’t wait to play with him.”

Ricky Nixon organises matches for Dane Swan and Heath Shaw at country footy clubs. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Former AFL player manager Ricky Nixon organises matches Swan and another former Magpie, Heath Shaw, and a post-match function where the player appears alongside Nixon as the headline acts.

“It’s bringing ex AFL stars back to the country, which doesn’t happen any more,” Nixon said.

“Every club has a different view on what the match payment is.

“It’s all negotiable and ranges from anywhere from $1500 to $3000 to $4000.”

Heath Shaw playing for East Keilor last year. Picture: Stuart Milligan

But there have been two instances where Shaw appearances have been cancelled at the 11th hour.

In 2022, Shaw was due to play for Benalla, but pulled out when his player points would increase from five to six when cleared back to metro club East Keilor.

Last month, Shaw was set to play for Gol Gol, but the Sunraysia AFL Commission ruled his appearance fee at the post-match function had to be included in the Millewa league’s salary cap of $47,500 along with his match payment.

“I found that utterly ridiculous,” Nixon said.

“It meant that hundreds of kids and everyone else missed out on watching Heath Shaw play.

“How does a sports night influence a premiership? Tell me that.”

AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue said: “We appreciate the benefits of marquee games and players.

“However the integrity of competitions is important and therefore the players and clubs entering into these arrangements are not exempt from the applicable rules and regulations.”