MAGPIE midfielder Dane Swan has produced an emphatic reply to those questioning his fitness, inspiring Collingwood to a one-point Anzac Day win against Essendon at the MCG.
After a quiet start to the year, Swan's fitness was questioned by some in the media, with the Magpie forced to deny being overweight at a press conference during the week.
However, the midfield star proved his fitness - and his extraordinary football ability - by collecting 42 touches, six tackles and booting three goals against the Bombers.
The 28-year-old was awarded the Anzac Medal after the nail-biting win, winning best afield votes from all three judges.
Medal voting
9 - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
2 - Ben Johnson (Collingwood), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
1 - Dayne Beams (Collingwood), David Zaharakis (Essendon), Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
How they voted
Tony Shaw (3AW, chairman) - Swan, Pendlebury, Beams
Luke Darcy (MMM) - Swan, Sidebottom, Heppell
Martin Blake (The Age) - Swan, Johnson, Zaharakis
More to come
