Career

McSwain spent six seasons at Carlton after arriving from Merbein. He put together 25 consecutive games from 1926 to 1927 and played in a Preliminary Final in 1929, but Carlton lost to Richmond by a goal. However the next season he played in a winning VFA Grand Final, this time at full-back.

Appointed captain-coach of Preston in 1933, he steered them to third position in his second and last year in charge, but missed the finals through injury.