David Swallow eyeing Round 23 AFL comeback after strong first game back in NEAFL
DAVID Swallow has set the bar high by targeting the Gold Coast Suns final round home match against Port Adelaide for his comeback to the AFL.
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DAVID Swallow has set the bar high by targeting the Gold Coast Suns final round home match against Port Adelaide for his comeback to the AFL.
The star midfielder played his first game since the middle of last year for the Suns reserves in a NEAFL clash against Southport at Fankhauser Reserve on Sunday.
Although he merely eased his way back into action, Swallow was nevertheless happy to get through his first serious hitout since Round 15 of 2015 seemingly without too many problems.
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“I wasn’t expecting too much,” the 23-year-old said after the Suns downed a bitterly lacklustre Southport by 13.7 (85) to 11.6 (72).
“It wasn’t my best performance but I was more than happy to get through the game well and get a bit of fitness because it has been a long time since I’ve played footy.”
Swallow played mostly on a half-back flank in between bench visits but occasionally crept into the middle for some centre bounces.
The next step on the Swallow comeback trail is to play close to a full game in the NEAFL again next weekend, then wait and see in regards to the AFL.
“I guess trying to get through a full game is the next thing, probably getting some more midfield minutes and make sure my parameters for all my high intensity running are up,” he said.
“Hopefully I’ll start to find a bit more of the footy and a bit more form.
“I’d like to try to play the last game against Port Adelaide in the ones – that’s the target.
“But it has been a long time since I’ve been able to play. If I get through next week all right I think we’ll make the call.”
Swallow said he pulled up OK but still experiences some soreness in the left knee.
“There’s a little bit of soreness but that’ll probably be me for the rest of my career.” he said.
Southport were terrible for much of the clash. They appeared to lack energy and continually turned the ball over with basic skill errors.
On that form they will simply be making up the numbers in the finals, that is if they can get there as they host the Northern Territory Thunder next week.
Originally published as David Swallow eyeing Round 23 AFL comeback after strong first game back in NEAFL
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