The Dane-ish Ambassador?

[The Royal Sampler]

I've been intrigued to see that Dane Swan has been the player to come forward with a quote in recent times regarding some of our off-field issues. In the last fortnight, he's offered his opinion publicly on the possible retention of Alan Didak and then yesterday weighed in on Ben Cousins' comeback to AFL football.

In my experience, it's not like Swanny to be a media mouthpiece... which makes me wonder. Have these recent offerings come about because Swan is developing a reputation as a dial-a-quote, or is it being orchestrated behind the scenes?

Dane Swan, without a doubt, is an impeccable choice as a player to speak on matters of redemption. He himself was charged with affray during a night out, at a time when he was still grappling with the tumult of AFL football, and nearly saw his career meet with a premature end. Interesting that he should be the one to calm the waters regarding Didak, and show his unbridled enthusiasm at the prospect of Cousins at the Lexus Centre.

While he doesn't come across as being excessively "media-schooled", there could hardly be a better person to advocate for second chances in the case of Didak and Cousins. If pressed by an interviewer, it would be all too easy for Swan to fall back on personal experience in order to validate his opinions. I may be putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5, but it would be a clever move indeed if it's a conscious decision by the administration.

P.S. Cousins for Collingw09d!


http://news.realfooty.com.au/sport/magpies-confident-ahead-of-swans-clash-20080820-3yr3.html

 

[mdc]

I'm going to go with the dial-a-quote option. He hasn't been mentioned by either MM or Burns AFAIK, and still doesn't seem overly captainy to me.

(NB: I am only restraining myself from mocking that choice of title for fear of your mod-wrath.)

 

[shawthing09]

I reckon dial a quote too. We know how much the media love a collingwood story and I think he is one of the players that seem to me to talk from a personal point of view, where as most of the collingwood boys tend to talk from a club perspective. Dane gives them honesty and allows them to make the insuations to write a story on.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I'm going to go with the dial-a-quote option. He hasn't been mentioned by either MM or Burns AFAIK, and still doesn't seem overly captainy to me.

(NB: I am only restraining myself from mocking that choice of title for fear of your mod-wrath.)

Not sure I understand your post. I'm not putting Swan up for the captaincy, I'm just a little curious as to why he's getting himself in the papers.

As for the title, mock away! It was meant to be corny as hell, and clearly succeeded.

 

[mdc]

Not sure I understand your post. I'm not putting Swan up for the captaincy, I'm just a little curious as to why he's getting himself in the papers.

I sorta, kinda, skimmed the OP, but I did read this bit;

In my experience, it's not like Swanny to be a media mouthpiece... which makes me wonder. Have these recent offerings come about because Swan is developing a reputation as a dial-a-quote, or is it being orchestrated behind the scenes?

I just assume if the club is going to the trouble of putting him forward as a spokesperson, they have intentions of making him a fixture in that role. And the spokesperson and captain generally tend to be one and the same.

Pendlebury's one who I feel they've obviously shoved into the media limelight, for that very reason.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Ah, well I guess that's the thing. I'm not suggesting that the Pies are putting Swan into a leadership role, I'm suggesting that they're using Swan because he is the best person to talk on these issues.

Reporter: "Do you want Cousins at the club?"
Swan: "Hell yeah, he pwns"
Reporter: "What about his addiction problems?"
Swan: "Erm, well I think everyone deserves a second chance. Back at the start of my career I did x and y which were lame, but now everyone thinks I'm ace and I wear a Spiderman suit while being in the top 10 in the Brownlow count. Wearing superhero costumes could be good for his rehabilitation."

... etc. etc. It would be a much tougher question for a cleanskin to answer, but Swan is our poster-boy for redemption at Collingwood.

 

[mdc]

Ah, well I guess that's the thing. I'm not suggesting that the Pies are putting Swan into a leadership role, I'm suggesting that they're using Swan because he is the best person to talk on these issues.

Reporter: "Do you want Cousins at the club?"
Swan: "Hell yeah, he pwns"
Reporter: "What about his addiction problems?"
Swan: "Erm, well I think everyone deserves a second chance. Back at the start of my career I did x and y which were lame, but now everyone thinks I'm ace and I wear a Spiderman suit while being in the top 10 in the Brownlow count. Wearing superhero costumes could be good for his rehabilitation."

... etc. etc. It would be a much tougher question for a cleanskin to answer, but Swan is our poster-boy for redemption at Collingwood.

Fair enough. It's just it seems Swan's been talking about a hell of a lot of things this year, not just Cousins.

Also, I'm not sure that all that many people would know anything about Swan's past for it to be a factor, in terms of the club specifically asking him to be the mouthpiece.

 

[Bloben]

5 star title. I don't think swan tries to be too contraversial like your traditional dail a quote. Fine by my book.

 

[sirlothie]

Speaking of Swan, here's a stat to get excited about.

In his last 5 games against the Crows, he has averaged 30 possessions, 10 marks and 4 inside 50's. Expect a big one on the weekend from Dane Magpie.

 

[Bay Pie]

Ah, well I guess that's the thing. I'm not suggesting that the Pies are putting Swan into a leadership role, I'm suggesting that they're using Swan because he is the best person to talk on these issues.

Reporter: "Do you want Cousins at the club?"
Swan: "Hell yeah, he pwns"
Reporter: "What about his addiction problems?"
Swan: "Erm, well I think everyone deserves a second chance. Back at the start of my career I did x and y which were lame, but now everyone thinks I'm ace and I wear a Spiderman suit while being in the top 10 in the Brownlow count. Wearing superhero costumes could be good for his rehabilitation."

... etc. etc. It would be a much tougher question for a cleanskin to answer, but Swan is our poster-boy for redemption at Collingwood.

 

[boulos]

ah, well i guess that's the thing. I'm not suggesting that the pies are putting swan into a leadership role, i'm suggesting that they're using swan because he is the best person to talk on these issues.

Reporter: "do you want cousins at the club?"
swan: "hell yeah, he pwns"
reporter: "what about his addiction problems?"
swan: "erm, well i think everyone deserves a second chance. Back at the start of my career i did x and y which were lame, but now everyone thinks i'm ace and i wear a spiderman suit while being in the top 10 in the brownlow count. Wearing superhero costumes could be good for his rehabilitation."

... Etc. Etc. It would be a much tougher question for a cleanskin to answer, but swan is our poster-boy for redemption at collingwood.

hilarious

 

[well left]

I reckon it's the work of the media department down at Lexus and Swan is only too happy to help.

I think the media requests certain players to front the media but those players won't do the media unless the Club are happy for that player to be in front of the media.

We saw the furore with the Polak situation - most media requests go through the club. We must be happy with Swan sharing his thoughts.

 

[Kirby]

I honestly think that the Swan quotes on the Didak and Cousins issues are deliberately orchestrated by the Club. I think he is seen as a poster boy for redemption and the appropriate person to get the message out there.

Now, I'm not suggesting they tell him what to say. I'm suggesting that they know his thoughts on these issues before they let him loose. He's also smart enough to know not to say something too ridiculous or troublesome.