Dane Swan: My Story

by Dane Swan

Larrikin, laid-back, too casual, bad influence, ball magnet and superstar – these are just some of the labels given to Dane Swan, one of the great characters of the AFL’s professional era. Taken by Collingwood at pick 58 in the 2001 ‘super draft’, no one saw a future Brownlow medallist but the scruffy kid knew how to get the ball. Right from the start he made two things clear: he didn’t like training and his mates and social life came first. Swan made front page news in 2003, and faced the sack after playing only three senior games. The infamous Collingwood Rat Pack took him under their wing, he thrived under Mick Malthouse’s coaching, and grew into a talented and nerveless big-occasion player with an incredible mix of power and speed. Off the field, his tattoos, deadpan delivery, transgressions and blunt refusal to become an AFL robot meant he was often used as clickbait.

Despite mastering the art of appearing not to care about anything, in Dane Swan: My Story, Swan – for the first time – reveals the pride that drove him to succeed, his loyalty to family, mates and the club that gave him many last chances, and how he worked hard, his way. He takes us inside the highs of the premiership, and through the tumultuous years of the transition from Malthouse to Nathan Buckley. Footy might be only a game, but it’s one hell of a ride with Dane Swan.

There’s no one like him at all in this day and age.

Nick Maxwell

One of the greatest players in the history of this club. He marched to the beat of his own drum, always, off the ground more so than on it, but I always liked the fact that he was an individual. And whatever he was doing, it worked.

Eddie McGuire

The bigger the game, the more turned on he was, and that became evident at the peak of his career because he played his best footy on the biggest stages.

Nathan Buckley

What made Swanny so good? It was talent, hard work and mental toughness to be that consistent.

Ben Johnson

It was quite extraordinary the way that he just got on with it. He loved winning, he loved the challenge and underneath it, he is a very proud person.

Mick Malthouse

About the author: Dane Swan played 258 games for Collingwood Football Club. He achieved the ultimate team success as a premiership player, and his haul of individual awards is impressive: a Brownlow Medal, three Copeland Trophies, five All Australians, an AFLCA Most Valuable Player award, a Jim Stynes Medal, a couple of Anzac Medals, as well as a swag of top-three finishes in many awards. His unbelievably consistent output meant he averaged 26.85 disposals across 15 seasons, second only to Greg ‘Diesel’ Williams. Swan’s career came to an untimely end in round 1 of 2016. He is acknowledged as one of the best modern midfielders and a one-of-a-kind champion of the competition.

Genres: Autobiography, Memoir, Sports, Nonfiction, Biography

368 pages, Hardcover

Published October 8, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Dane Swan is a Brownlow medallist, three-time Copeland Trophy winner, premiership player and five-time All Australian. Notoriously he was a part of the Rat-pack, a group of players who liked having a laugh and a good time. But Dane Swan is highly respected for his playing ability and genuinely liked across the AFL's teams and fans. His many accolades attest to his brilliance on the field. Dane has been given the well-earned titles "untaggable" and "the greatest modern mid-fielder'.

Reviews

[Matt Farrelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, so much so that I finished it in an afternoon and I'm not even a Collingwood follower.

Have to admire Dane Swan both as a person and a footballer; someone that, despite the system stayed true to himself, yet remained one of the most consistent and durable players throughout his career. His record of holding the second highest average disposals during that time is a testament to this.

Yes, he likes a drink and a social life outside of the game ,but when your footy does the talking who can deny this? Modern football has become too much about mollycoddling players and political correctness.

Will be sad to know that he will no longer be running around out there next year and can only wish him the best for the future.

[Sabe]

coolest book ever

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read an autobiography before and I definitely didn't think my first would be about an AFL footballer.
I don't really follow footy, I absolutely don't follow Collingwood and I don't understand the rules but none of that matters when reading this book.
It is so good I read out loud in the car for 2 hours to my husband while he drove us to Christmas lunch at his mums. Who reads out loud to a grown man?! And I usually get travel sick if I read in the car. Not this day!!
Really interesting insight into AFL, the players, the culture and Dane Swan.
Well done Swanky.
#daneforthewin #imacelebrity

[Jaimee-Lee Morrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely honest and surprising. Swan doesn't hold back about his time at Collingwood and you learn to love him. "Don't read a book by it's cover" is the best I can describe this book, I am by no means a Collingwood supporter and before reading this book a big fan of Swan, but after completion I really admire him!

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - am a biased Pies and Swanny lover but this seemed so true to himself as he’s always come across. Highly recommend.

[Pinky And The Brain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have given the book a 5, but it seemed to jump all about the place. Great player, easy to read book, very relatable.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

hi

[Tricia Mifsud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book within two days of purchase.
Dane doesn’t hold back and really opens up on his past experiences. No crap, says it how it happened. Great for any sports fan!

[Lisa Nania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good honest read, telling it how it is

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true champion of the game. I'm glad that Dane did things his way. From the way he led his life off the field, to the way he trained. A very good story.

[Harry Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading about Dane Swan. Very inspirational - not only for AFL fans

[Ben Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed the autobiography, it showed the true personalities of Dane Swan. The book talked about his life and the struggles he went through to eventually become the person he is today. Overall I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a very relaxing own to earth book.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I didn't read this book, my husband did. That is remarkable as it's the first book he's read from cover to cover in over fifty years.
He is a mad Collingwood supporter and ardent fan of Dane Swan. A real larrikin evident in a quote from the very first chapter title page - Over and Out - 'I'll prob retire at 30 coz I don't want footy to get in the way of my social life.' Hubby said it was a good book he really enjoyed. The font was the right size for an old bloke to read.
Throughout his reading of this book hubby would tell me little snippets. Such as, Dane was one of the Rat Pack at Collingwood, as a party boy he enjoyed life with his mates Chris Tarrant, Daisy Thomas, Shane Wakelin and Harry O'Brien. Mick Malthouse was the best coach ever and he stuck up for Dane when he got drunk and he was in big trouble. His mates started leaving the Club and things changed. He stayed loyal to the club under Bucks, and remained a consistent contributor gaining individual awards including a Brownlow Medal, three Copeland Trophies (to a novice like me that's the Best and Fairest). There are pictures of highlights and the young boy who began the journey. There are statistics at the end of the book too for those with an analytical mind.
I for one am glad that this book was written as it got my husband doing what is second nature to me, reading. I’m also glad I purchased this on line immediately it was released. I may even read it now as I do read biographies.

[Marly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that I am a Collingwood supporter. A true fan. My mum is the reason why. And I've claimed several players as my favourite over the years. But. For me, Swanny is the dark horse. He is the one player that I had a lot of love for without ever truly realising it. And reading this book has given me a lot of insight into how his mind works and what kind of person he is, and I think I've fallen in love with the person he is even more.

He isn't perfect and he is the first to admit that, but in this book he opens himself up to us and shows that he is exactly who he is and if people don't like it...then too bad.

He takes us from when he was drafted by the Pies all the way to his Swansong. He tells about what it was like during the Malthouse/Bucks transition...he sheds light on the Rat Pack...and so much more and through it all his voice is clear.

I can tell you now, though, even if you're not a Collingwood fan you will enjoy this book. Dane Swan is a legend in the AFL, and as his manager said, everyone, even rival supporters love him.

I will miss seeing him in the black and white, for real. Go Pies.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

was such an amazing book, 10/10 do recommend.
I originally thought it'd be all pictures and going out drinking all the time, and maybe he does mention drinking all the time, but Swanny is such a smart man, very knowledgeable, and has very good opinions and thoughts on a range of topics.
He loves the Collingwood footy club, his mates, his teammates, his family, etc and yeah he's so laid back and calm, but he's so passionate for the things he loves.
Definitely a good read.
I wish the book could've continued and I still wish his afl career could've continued :(
But it's nice hearing Swanny's fine with his career ending and being content to move on and pursue other interests. I hope he sails off into the sunset with Taylor and becomes a barista in New York.

[Pagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 9/10
Fantastic Book for One of my Favourite Players in AFL

I was really excited to read this when I realised it was coming out, as he is one of my all time favourite players, despite not being a Collingwood supporter. This was the first time I had read a biography/autobiography, and straight sports novel and throughly enjoyed it. It was insightful in both his life, career and the football club, and yet it remained true to the character we have watched during his many games in his AFL career. The best bit was definitely the humour instilled by his character combined with the honesty written in his story.

Not much for non-fiction novels myself, I will certainly be looking at reading more biographies in the future, if they are written to this standard and humour.

[Karl Kindt · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is not my favorite AFL player, but he has been the most interesting one to watch since I became a fan in 2011. He played in the first game I ever watched, the 2010 Grand Final against St. Kilda, the one that ended in a draw, that had to be re-played the next week. This book, whether it was ghost-written or not, captures an authentic voice, a real Aussie rules player who has seen much in his 15 year career. He provides intriguing insight into his playing days as well as to the AFL in general. In reading this, I felt like Dane and I had sat down with a beer or three and he told me his story. Very fun read.

[Lulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a career, it was hard not to admire him. Reading the book brings back memories and emotions of a career well played which provided endless clickbait for maggots like Caroline Wilson. An absolutely champion player with a unique personality and strong sense of loyalty to his friends and family.

[Lisa Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
It so true to Swanny. The way he was as a person and a player. Giving insight into how he thought and how he played and the truth behind some of the "incidents" that he was apart of.

[Jason Steinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a big fan of swanny but it was an interesting read nevertheless.

[Andrew Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real person in the fishbowl of the AFL is hard to find. All the best with life after footy Swanny you well and truly earnt it.