AFL RECORD THE RAT PACK XXXXXX XXX XXX XXXXXX AFL RECORD It’s a bond that’ll never be broken

If there was any trouble off the field, these blokes could generally find it, but when the game was on the line, they could be relied on to perform match-winning deeds on it. They have enjoyed their good times and while they are older and a little wiser these days, their bond endures and their fierce loyalty to each other is palpable as they banter about the good ol’ days at Collingwood. BEN COLLINS gains a rare insight into what made these marvellous, miscreant Magpies tick.

MISCHIEVOUS MAGPIES: , Dane Swan and Ben Johnson miss playing together but are enjoying life after football. 28 | AFL RECORD | afl.com.au afl.com.auPHOTO: ROB PREZIOSO/AFL | AFL RECORD PHOTOS | 29 AFL RECORD THE RAT PACK

or more than a decade, Collingwood’s notorious ‘Rat Pack’ baulked umpteen media requests for a group interview. And who could blame them, given the endless fascination with their nocturnal exploits. So there was some excitement at the AFL Record offices when three key Rat Packers – Dane Swan, Alan Didak and Ben Johnson – finally agreed to their first on-the-record, round-table chat. Much like their eventful careers – which culminated in the Magpies’ 2010 premiership – it proves well Fworth the wait. On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in winter, we’re immediately reminded that we’re taking a walk on footy’s wild side. Asked whether they mind if we record the interview, Didak quips: “No worries – just don’t give it to Mick.” Of course, he’s referring to 2010 PHOTO: ROB PREZIOSO/AFL PHOTOS Collingwood premiership coach . Old habits die hard. Two days And so began a long, entertaining ˜˜The Rat Pack often incurred the wrath of earlier, Swan and Johnson watched lunch with the Pies’ larrikin their Pies lose to in the brotherhood at their venue of choice coach Mick Malthouse for waxing on the field. Queen’s Birthday clash, after which – a Japanese restaurant in Hawthorn. We see it as they “kicked on” ’til late. Two other Rat Packers had Johnson: “Mick would always send “We’ve definitely settled down, planned to be here, but Chris Tarrant a term of but we still have our moments,” is a late withdrawal and out the message: ‘Stop kicking it to Johnson says, a glint in his eye. (who had remained in Melbourne endearment. Much like their original during the Giants’ mid-season bye) your mates.’ In junk time, they’re the only Hollywood namesakes, privately is at a funeral. they have other names for their Outside the AFL bubble, blokes I’d kick to, to We love it DANE SWAN ON THE RAT PACK NAME rebel fraternity, calling themselves our easygoing trio are enjoying get the stats up.” Didak: “You just “pigs” and “piglets”. less-scrutinised and comparatively Johnson explains: “We eat, we stress-free lives. knew that if you could push off LARRIKIN BROTHERHOOD: drink, we party hard – we’re pigs.” Didak and Johnson are now The Rat Packers don’t see each other your opponent it Swan: “And you have to earn fathers (as is Tarrant) and do 9-5 as much as when they were teammates, your pig status.” jobs – Didak, 34, owns INDI Wines would be lace-out but when they do they immediately slip – well, maybe not back into the old groove. There’s some conjecture over the and is a consultant at Multigroup origin of their Rat Pack label, with Logistics, while Johnson, 36, is a with Swanny.” Swan: “Hey, it’d be below 90kg for the first time the contributors including Malthouse business developer with long-time in 10 years. and former CEO Gary Pert. Collingwood corporate partner in your general vicinity. We’re not all blessed The 2011 Brownlow medallist Johnson: “Mick started it. We got Bluestar Logistics. in trouble outside footy and he said with ridiculous skills is in great shape, apart from wrists The more recently-retired Swan, to me: ‘You and your scaly mates! like you.” that barely bend and a right foot 33, owns Renegade Art Society Bloody rats!’” Swan adds: “At problem that ended his career and tattoo studio in Moonee Ponds Didak: “‘Perty’ said, ‘There’s a centre bounces I knew will eventually require fusing. and clothing label Ratbagg, and group at the club called The Brat exactly where Johnno Didak and Johnson also have continues to create headlines as Pack’, and then the Herald Sun would be storming niggles but, unlike Swan, are a an international man of leisure called us The Rat Pack.” off half-back and he’d little over their playing weights. in his “gap year”. Swan: “And when someone abuse me if I didn’t Johnson plans to reunite the Most notably, Swan finished got in trouble, they had all of us give it to him. But if Rat Pack at his local Eastern runner-up in Channel 10’s I’m A looking like rats on the front page. I did give it to him, Football League club Doncaster. Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here, And it stuck.” Mick would get into Swan isn’t convinced so Johnson filmed in the South African jungle. No offence was taken – quite me. I couldn’t win.” playfully admonishes: “Just do as In six weeks he lost 14kg, to drop you’re told, Dane.” the contrary in fact.

30 | AFL RECORD | afl.com.au AFL RECORD THE RAT PACK PA AT CK R Swan: “Not many other groups and Friday night before a Saturday of players have been given a name. game, and then I’d go out Saturday and Sunday night. Whoever coined it did well. T Some people like to see something OU RS “This was just before camera offensive in it, but we see it as a phones. If you did that now, I was told a couple term of endearment. We love it. ˜˜The Rat Packers there’d be photos of you on social It’s amazing what it’s become. love their moniker so media and you’d be suspended of times, ‘If this Every time I go to a footy club much that they plan to or sacked.” (for a speaking engagement), trade off it. Swan says he doesn’t have regrets people say, ‘Here’s our Rat Pack.’” The four chief because he did it his way, while gets out, we won’t Didak: “Most clubs have a Rat members – Dane Johnson regrets “partying too much” Pack, whether it be division seven Swan, Alan Didak, in 2007-08, leading to a form slump. be able to save you’ or AFL.” Chris Tarrant and Ben For all the stories of late-night DANE SWAN Johnson: “Most organisations Johnson – are set to escapades, these proud Pies are have one.” Swan: “And being at launch Rat Pack Tours, keen to make a couple of points. Collingwood, it gets magnified.” which will kick off with “We had a good time and we They’re equally amused and next year’s soccer mucked up at times, but that isn’t humming. We knew exactly what bemused by all the fuss, given World Cup in Russia. all we did,” Swan says. was required and in 2010-11 we they regard themselves as simply a They hope to “We’re premiership players, felt like we could smash anyone.” tight-knit band of knockabouts who expand to other All-Australians, best and fairests, Swan: “It was a winning culture. love a good time, who have only ever sporting events such Brownlow medallist. Well, most of I hated training more than anyone, done “normal things” for men their as the NBA playoffs them are mine.” but I loved going to the club then age, and who “just happened” to be and the Super Bowl. The other two laugh as Swan because we’d win and have fun.” stars at the game’s biggest club. Swan knows what continues: “When the game was Johnson: “From ’06 to ’11, we About a dozen Pies have been they’re in for, given there to be won, it was usually had the best culture.” labelled Rat Packers since the early that last month he led someone from the Rat Pack who And the Rat Pack helped create 2000s, but Johnson says the core a Dane Swan On Tour stuck their head over the ball and that environment. comprised Tarrant, Didak, Swan, group to New York. did something.” They influenced each other himself and Rhyce and Heath Shaw. Asked how much Johnson: “We also had the respect (the classic example being Johnson The others – whom Johnson calls punters would pay for of our teammates. We’d go out after dragging along a young Swan on “second-tier” members – included the pleasure, Swan a game, but the next morning the track while Tarrant guided him , and says: “Who cares – we’d train harder than anyone.” in the gym) and had a significant . Before them it’s priceless.” Swan: “Speak for yourself, ‘Johnno’.” impact on the team. were the likes of Andrew Dimattina, Didak, the Pies’ former Swan: “One year everyone had Ben Kinnear and . clown prince, raises the club’s to write down their top five They explain the criteria for much-critiqued culture. influencers in the group and, even entry into the Rat Pack. “The biggest myth was that we though none of us were in the Swan: “You had to be consistent had a culture problem,” he says. leadership group, five out of the on and off the field. You needed a “Mick had us in the palm of his top seven names were from the couple of things on your rap sheet.” hand. Our change rooms were Rat Pack.” Johnson: “You had to be caught doing something, by either the law or the club.” Swan: “Collingwood was the law we had to deal with.” Johnson said they were caught by the club only about five per cent of the time. And he reckons only 10 per cent of those indiscretions hit the media. Swan: “It was all in the natural realm of being lads, but I’d had so many chances that I was told a couple of times, ‘If this gets out, we won’t be able to save you.’” They question whether they would have survived in the AFL now, and whether they would have been prepared to make the required social sacrifices. However, they suspect the overriding factors would be their love of the game, mateship and the lack of a better career alternative. Without footy, Swan believes he would have become a wharfie like his father, VFA great ; Johnson would have become hands-on in his father’s plaster off-cut removal business and Didak FLAGPIES: Dane suggests he would have been a Swan and Alan Didak were instrumental factory hand. in Collingwood’s Swan: “As a young bloke, 2010 triumph. I was going out Thursday night

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O F MICK

˜˜Dane Swan and Ben Johnson say they were former coach Mick Malthouse’s “whipping boys”, and Alan Didak wasn’t spared either. Swan: “Before our game reviews, Mick would tell our video guys, ‘Just get me something on Swan or Johnson so I can yell at them.’ He told me once, ‘You’re killing your teammates and I don’t know why they’d want to play with you.’ That was a little harsh.” Johnson: “Mick got Johnson: “It was basically ‘Maxy’ me on the phone on (captain ) and the Rat TOTAL RESPECT: The Rat Pack the bench and said, Pack. They all wanted to be us.” loved coach Mick Malthouse (above) ‘You think you’re Malthouse came to love his rough and lauded the leadership of premiership skipper Nick Maxwell. a million dollars, diamonds, and they in turn loved him but let me tell you as a father-figure, leader and mentor, something, son – observing that he managed them as you’re FIVE CENTS!’” well as any coach could have. Didak: “We wanted Johnson: “Mick understood you to prove him wrong. need different personalities and that After we got thrashed we needed to do things differently. once, Mick said, ‘Dids, You can’t win a flag with 22 robots. you were useless!’ And he was a great motivator – he I thought, ‘What had me in tears at least five times about the previous six when he was addressing the group, weeks when I went and even he’d start crying. I would’ve OK?’ I was fuming – run through a brick wall for Mick.” I shook my head for Swan: “He knew what made about a minute. In people tick. As part of the core 15 our Monday meeting blokes, if we played well we might I got in trouble be allowed to miss a session. Johnno for that and for hated doing weights so Mick mightn’t breathing heavily!” make him do them.” Swan: “In my early Didak: “The only time Johnno did years, Mick often weights was just before we’d go to told me, ‘Pull your (Las) Vegas (at season’s end).” socks up. If you’re not Malthouse had a profound going to play like a influence on their careers, but footballer, at least Swan feels they were destined to look like one.’ He’d become quality players regardless Swan: “We’re very loyal to even send the runner because they had great pride in each other and we’ve always got out to tell me.” their performance. each other’s back, even if it meant During the Swan: “I didn’t give a rat’s off the sometimes lying to coaches and others Magpies’ 2007 field, but I did on it. No matter how about breaking team rules and stuff.” The biggest myth semi-final win over much I got up to (socially), I wanted Johnson: “We lied at least once West Coast in Perth, to be best-on-ground every week. a month.” was that we had a the suspended I just hated playing bad. Mick was At times the Rats were ratted out, Johnson sat in the great but it wouldn’t have mattered but they “copped it sweet”. coach’s box and who coached me.” culture problem Swan: “We were also punished made the mistake Malthouse recently told Channel ALAN DIDAK if we didn’t hit KPIs, and one time of cheering after Seven that no one worked harder there were 10 names in the hat and a crucial late goal. or gave more to Collingwood in nine of them were mine.” Malthouse screamed: his time there than the Rat Pack. Swan always ignored the edict to “Ben, get out! No one However, their relationship was arrive for pre-season training in good cheers in my box!” regularly tested. shape, telling the club: “It’s called

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MATES FOREVER: The 2010 premiership strengthened the bond shared by Rat Pack members Heath Shaw, Ben Johnson, Dane Swan and Alan Didak.

the off-season, not the pre-pre-season. Swan wishes they’d spent a week Let’s just see who’s one of the celebrating around Melbourne first. ˜˜Rat Packers Alan best-on-ground in round one.” There was greater lament the next Didak and Heath Shaw Nearing the end of one off-season, year when Collingwood dominated lifted their teammates Swan and Didak started jogging We’ll be doing the minor rounds but lost the Grand with brilliance on the on a Mexican beach when a Final to . field and comedy off it. “knackered” Didak stopped after this when Swan: “I’ve pushed it out of my brain.” Johnson: “They’re 50m because he felt like he was Tarrant had returned to the Pies the two funniest guys running in quicksand. Swan after four years with Fremantle. I’ve ever seen at a quit 50m further on. “At least we we’re 60 Johnson: “‘Taz’ went over there footy club.” BEN JOHNSON did our recovery in the ocean,” and matured and came back a nerd. Swan: “They’d have Didak said. He really wanted a flag and he even us in tears of laughter They lauded the “incredible” tried to stop us drinking.” at training. It was leadership of Maxwell, who often Johnson: “And my knee had In 2010, Swan claimed his infectious. Weights sought Rat Pack perspectives. to be jabbed to train and play. third successive would stop for 10 Swan: “Maxy would tell us, At least you could run, Dids – jeez.” and the next year he won the minutes just to watch ‘I know what you guys are doing. Late in the drawn Grand Final , but insists: them do something Just don’t influence the young guys.’ against St Kilda, Johnson was “I’d gladly trade all my individual stupid, whether it was We respected that.” tracking when a bad awards for another flag. But I’d jumping out of a bin Johnson says after belting St Kilda bounce denied the Saints goalsneak trade the flag if it meant I wasn’t to scare someone or in round 16, 2010, the Rat Pack a potentially match-winning goal. going to be lifelong mates with doing a funny dance.” vowed not to drink until season’s end. Johnson: “The first bounce was guys from that team.” Johnson: “Dids is Swan: “Ben, I find it really hard to worse than the second one.” Swan, the last Rat Packer actually a good dancer believe that we went cold turkey for Didak: “I pictured Milne walking to depart Collingwood, says: who moves really well, 10 weeks.” in for a goal.” “I thought Dids had at least another but he does these Didak: “Nah, we set that rule Johnson: “I pictured it too, year and we should’ve kept Heath, but other moves that for everyone else, but kept doing mate – I would’ve walked straight off.” Johnno was well and truly cooked.” are hilarious.” it ourselves.” Didak: “I wouldn’t have talked Johnson retorts: “You rang me Swan: “If we’d been Swan: “Yeah – do as I say, not as I do.” to you ever again.” after each training session in tears beaten, it gave us a lift.” Didak earned plaudits for his Johnson: “Hey, come on, I was in wanting me to come back.” Didak: “It wasn’t bravery to play the entire finals the back 50 one-out for five minutes. Serious again, Swan says: “It’s like planned or anything series with a torn pectoral – How about one of you blokes we never left each other. It’s a bond – I was just a clown “My arm was actually ripped off,” dropping back? Me, Maxy and Heath that’ll never be broken.” who liked making he jests – but he’s quickly cut back saved you boys.” Johnson: “After footy, not many the boys laugh. Win, down to size. After their big win the next week players keep friendship groups, but lose or draw, I’d do Swan: “That’s nothin’ – I got in the Grand Final replay, the players we’ll be doing this when we’re 60.” something.” a corky in the first final.” left for overseas trips on the Tuesday. @bencollocollins

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