On the field he’s as good as there is, but as the AFL’s most unprofessional professional, Dane Swan has the potential to derail Collingwood’s season.
The fallout from Swan’s interview last Thursday night on The Footy Show has prompted an overreaction from the Collingwood Football Club after the prolific ball winner failed to inform his club of his participation in the interview.
Swan is believed to have made $20,000 for his role in the interview and AFL rules prohibit clubs from fining players more than $5,000 for media protocol breaches.
The actual content of the Swan interview is the most relevant element of the interview but Collingwood President Eddie McGuire has publicly stated he has no qualms with Swan’s responses to probing questions by Damien Barrett.
The purpose of the interview surrounded the drug controversy which consumed the AFL preseason and Swan was handpicked for the interview based on his public profile as the consummate unprofessional, who just so happens to be one of the best players in the league.
Controversy and public indiscretions have followed Swan his entire career and his social life is well known to his club, the AFL and fans.
“[I have] a laid-back attitude and like to relax and to have a bit of fun. I’m not footy, footy, footy all the time,” Swan told The Footy Show.
“I’m clearly not an angel. I probably go out a little bit more socially than your common footballer. Maybe I am a bit of what they call a ‘lad’.”
It was only as recent as August last season that Swan was handed a two match suspension by his club for turning up to training hungover.
Players like Swan are a refreshing delight to the fans who have come accustomed with the clichés players have been ingrained to regurgitate to the media.
Honest and open players are rarely available to the media but the insight into club culture they give is considered dangerously insightful by their clubs.
Throughout his career, Jason Akermanis was the most honest player in the league and never feared speaking his mind. He did however; destroy the club culture at both the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs.
The question has to be asked, did Dane Swan actually do anything wrong?
The answer obviously depends on who you ask but the Collingwood star was fined $5,000 by his club for breaching protocols.
While things may appear settled at the surface of an unrepentant Swan, he rests on dangerous ground and would be considered a high risk player capable of spiralling out of control.
Overall, Swan is still good for the game because his views are refreshing and he gives the fans what they want. His club would disagree though.
Collingwood’s premiership hopes somewhat hinge on how Swan can bounce back from this latest indiscretion and the last thing they need is a disgruntled Brownlow medallist.
Has football become too professional?
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