See the proof that party animal footy legend Dane Swan had a HUGE night after his induction into the AFL Hall of Fame
- Dane Swan enjoyed a great night on Tuesday
- Collingwood legend joked about partying late into the night
- Swan had the room laughing during his Hall of Fame speech
Collingwood cult hero Dane Swan enjoyed a huge night after his Australian Football Hall of Fame gong, with the legend forced to skip a media conference the following morning.
Swan was the fourth inductee at Tuesday night's gala event in Melbourne and he lived up to his reputation as one of the AFL's true larrikins when he had the room in stitches with several wild anecdotes.
Much-loved by a legion of fans in the Magpie Army, Swan was a leader of Collingwood's famous 'rat pack' during their successful period under coaching legend Mick Malthouse and his successor Nathan Buckley.
Swan delivered a masterful speech and had the room in hysterics, reflecting on his many off-field controversies.
He thanked his girlfriend Taylor Wilson and couldn't resist making a cheeky remark.
Dane Swan (pictured with girlfriend Taylor Wilson) was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame
'I'm not a cunning linguist ... Lucky I got that out, that could've been dangerous,' he joked.
'Without you I don't know where I'd be. I love you so, so much. Please remember these kind words when I'm refusing to come to bed in about 10 hours and I won't kick anyone out of the after party.'
Wilson, who shares three children with Swan, could be seen laughing in the crowd, but seemed to flash him a frosty glance at the remark.
After the ceremony wrapped up, News Corp claims the attendees gravitated towards Swan's table, where he was well on his way to a good night with fellow 'rat pack' members Heath Shaw, Chris Tarrant, Ben Johnson and Alan Didak.
The group seemingly had a good night as Swan apologetically called AFL bosses on Wednesday to politely withdraw from that morning's media duties.
Swan didn't hesitate to pinpoint the fork in the road that set on him on the path to a glittering AFL career, and eventually induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
'When I got arrested,' he said.
'That was fun.'
A self-confessed 's***head' during his junior days, who railed against authority, Swan initially believed football was all about fun and games off the field when he first arrived at the biggest club in the land.
Swan and his long-term girlfriend Taylor have three children together
The 2011 Brownlow Medal winner was a key contributor in the Magpies' 2010 premiership
Swan (pictured in his hotel room before the ceremony) was an All-Australian for five consecutive seasons
'I thought playing AFL was all about getting drink cards on a Saturday night,' he said.
'I'd give a lot of effort; it was all on a Saturday night.
'There was no effort during the day and I didn't deserve to be on an AFL list.
'I got in that blue and got in trouble and thought I was going to be sacked.
'You don't know what you've got until it's gone. It's very cliche, but it rang true with me.'
Swan was arrested for getting into a fight with bouncers at the end of 2003, his second year at Collingwood.
His father Bill Swan, a Victorian Football Association great, told the young player to walk away if he wasn't interested in an AFL career.
Club leaders, including legendary coach Mick Malthouse, sat Swan down and told him some brutal home truths while urging him to repay their faith.
He turned it around and went on and to become a Magpies great, starring in the famous 2010 premiership and winning the Brownlow Medal a year later.
Swan was an All-Australian for five consecutive seasons (2009-2013) and won Collingwood's best-and-fairest award three times (2008-2010).
