DANE Swan's father, Billy, has credited Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse with turning his son's life and football career around.

A renowned party boy when he first reached the Magpies, the 27-year-old capped his rise to fame on Monday night when he won the Brownlow Medal by polling a record 34 votes.

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"The whole family are rapt for Dane," Billy Swan told SEN radio. "He really deserves it.

"But I can't speak highly enough of Mick and what he's done for Dane.

"He's coached him the whole way through, and he's been fantastic for him.

"He stuck by him, and the whole family are rapt in what Mick's done for him."

Billy Swan also enjoyed a great football career, playing 302 games in Melbourne's second-tier VFA competition with Port Melbourne and Williamstown.

However, he isn't taking credit for Dane's elite athletic ability.

"I was just a plodder, mate," Billy joked. "I certainly didn't have the speed or the endurance that Dane's got."

Having been disappointed when Dane failed to win the 2010 Brownlow Medal despite going into the count as favourite, the Swan family was not expecting to be celebrating on Monday night.

"I thought he'd had a pretty good year, but after last year I really didn't give it much thought, so it was a fantastic effort in the end," Billy said.

"It was funny because there was no pressure on us at all. We just sat home and watched it all unfold. It was good."

Dane looked completely at ease when he received his medal from the 2010 winner, Carlton skipper Chris Judd.

Billy said that his son's performance during the presentation was a true reflection of his laid-back off-field demeanour.

"He takes everything in his stride and doesn't seem to let anything really worry him," Billy said. "That's just the way he is."