The Collingwood Football Club has tonight honoured its past, with three icons of the black and white inducted into its Hall of Fame.

The Pies celebrated Ross ‘Twiggy’ Dunne, Leigh Matthews and Dane Swan as the newest inductees to the illustrious group at a special event held at The Glasshouse within the KGM Centre.

Dunne played 213 games for Collingwood between 1967 and 1978 and was known for his ever-reliable kicking, scoring 238 goals.

Delivering under pressure, his most iconic goal was in the 1977 VFL Grand Final when the Pies were down by six points. Dunne marked the ball 20 metres from goal and calmly slotted the equaliser with one of his trademark torpedo punts.

More affectionately known as ‘Twiggy’, Dunne stood at 193cm tall, but the nickname formed from his light frame and the way he would glide around the ground.

Dunne’s contribution to Collingwood wasn’t just on the field. In 1977, he started working as an assistant to the football secretary, Jack Regan, before holding a variety of roles throughout the Club, including Operations Manager and Administration Manager, until the end of the 1990s.

Catherine Sinclair, daughter of Dunne, spoke on his behalf.

“To be included with all these magnificent people who have contributed so much to the Collingwood Football Club. Being part of this special group of people make all the hard days of playing and working worthwhile.

“This acknowledgement of all that effort and hard work makes me feel honoured. I never expected anything like this.

“Thank you to the Collingwood Football Club for the opportunities they gave me and to its supporters for doing what they do best.”

Throughout Matthews’ decade-long stint as Senior Coach of Collingwood, the Australian Football Legend transformed the Club.

When he was appointed to the role in 1986, Collingwood was facing a significant premiership drought.

With 32 years between Grand Final victories, Matthews led the Club to claim the 1990 AFL Premiership by 48 points over Essendon.

Coaching Collingwood in 224 games for 125 wins, 94 losses and 5 draws, Matthews instilled an ultra-professional mindset in his players and was a key driver during a pivotal period in the transition to the modern era of Australian Football.

Matthews paid tribute to those inducted before him, who he now stands alongside in the Collingwood Hall of Fame.

03:29

2025 Hall of Fame Inductee: Leigh Matthews

Tony Shaw and Eddie Hilgrove share their reflections on the brilliance of Leigh Matthews, who has been inducted into the Collingwood Football Club Hall of Fame.

“It’s a humbling honour. Almost everyone in the Collingwood Hall of Fame is like a roll call for the most household names in Australian Football. So many of those gigantic names we coined and to join that list is an incredible honour,” Matthews said.

“Most of these Hall of Fames are for people inside the white line, not for those who tried our best from the sidelines. So, I’m incredibly humbled and honoured by that privilege.”

An all-time Collingwood fan favourite, Swan is one of the greatest midfielders to have played in the black and white.

He won a Brownlow Medal, three Copeland Trophies, five All-Australians, a Premiership and countless other accolades throughout his 258-game career.

Swan’s laid-back and larrikin approach to the game, combined with his influence across the field, made him loved by the Magpie Army.

A powerful midfielder who was dangerous around the contest and able to change a game when pushed forward, Swan became known for his elite work rate and running ability, breaking stoppages apart with his explosive speed.

A broken foot in the season opener of 2016 ended Swan’s career, but he will forever be remembered as one of the game’s great characters, who was an unconventional footballer and did everything in his own unique way.

Swan, with his classic sense of humour, thanked those most influential throughout his career.

03:06

2025 Hall of Fame Inductee: Dane Swan

Former Collingwood Coach Michael Malthouse and former player Ben Johnson speak about Dane Swan and his impact in black and white.

"To the footy Club, thank you very much. The Club gave me a chance, well a lot of chances, and I appreciate it - I love this football Club," Swan said. 

"Thank you to my friends and to the footy boys and everyone I played with, thank you for allowing me to be me and footy would not have nearly been as fun without you all. 

"To all my coaches, you made me the player I was and thank you for letting me be me. And lastly, thank you to the volunteers and support staff, who looked after all of us and did everything that was needed to be done. I really appreciate all the support and to my buds on my table tonight, words don't stress how much you made footy easier for me."

Ross ‘Twiggy’ Dunne

Career Summary (1967 – 1978)

  • Games: 213
  • Goals: 238

Awards

  • Bob Rose Award (Best Finals Player) 1971
  • Harry Collier Trophy (Best First Year Player) 1967
  • Collingwood Football Club Life Member 1977

 

Leigh Matthews

Collingwood career summary (1986 – 1995)

  • Games coached: 224

Awards

  • AFL Premiership Coach 1990
  • AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year 1990

 

Dane Swan

Career Summary (2003 - 2016)

  • Games: 258
  • Goals: 211

Awards

  • AFL Premiership Player 2010
  • Brownlow Medal 2011
  • Copeland Trophy 2008, 2009, 2010
  • R T Rush Trophy (runner-up) 2011, 2013, 2015
  • J J Joyce Trophy (third) 2012
  • Bob Rose Award (Best Finals Player) 2008, 2010, 2013
  • Anzac Day Medal 2012, 2014
  • All-Australian 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Leigh Matthews Trophy (AFLPA) 2010
  • AFLCA Champion Player 2010
  • Collingwood Football Club Life Member 2017