David Swallow and Jarrod Witts have been re-elected as Suns co-captains for the upcoming season
The Suns are refusing to let the demons of last year haunt them in 2020 after re-electing David Swallow and Jarrod Witts as co-captains for the upcoming season.
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THE Suns are refusing to let the demons of last year haunt them in 2020 after re-electing David Swallow and Jarrod Witts as co-captains for the upcoming season.
HISTORY MADE: SUNS REVEAL AFLW CAPTAINS AND LEADERS
Swallow, 27, and Witts, 27, received the greatest vindication from their playing peers and football staff when they were re-elected captains for 2020 on the back of a disastrous 2019 season where the Suns won only three games to finish last on the AFL ladder.
Now boasting a raft of elite young talent and a clean slate, Witts said the events of 2019 were firmly in the rear-view mirror.
“Last year is behind us now,” he said.
“It’s happened and we’ve had a great pre-season and there’s a lot of guys in better positions this year than they were last year.
“My aim, as well as everyone else at the footy club, is to put in good processes and create an environment for us to prosper.
“It’s about getting our processes right so that no matter what happens on the weekend, you can keep coming back to that and have trust in that and knowing that with the work that everyone is putting in, things will change.”
Honoured to retain his role as one of only five men to captain the Suns, Witts admitted fronting up loss after loss tested his own personal leadership.
“I enjoyed the responsibility and think it made me a better player,” he said.
“We started so well then had a few losses and injuries and dropped away a bit so I found that quite challenging.
“Losing is tough in itself but it’s a matter of keeping on the right track.”
HISTORY OF HARD CHOICES LEADS KIWI TO BIG TIME
A leader by example, Swallow also revealed that the barrage of losses took a personal toll.
“I enjoyed it last year but it certainly had its challenges,” he said.
“Wins and losses, finishing 18th on the ladder, there are times when you have self-doubts but I guess it’s about continual improvement and growth.
“You try to look for positive in what you are doing and where we’re are heading.
“There are a lot of things we are doing right.”
The remainder of the leadership group will be announced over the coming weeks.
Both captains were formally announced at the Suns season launch event at HOTA last night with Witts and Swallow joining Leah Kaslar and Sam Virgo as Suns’ leaders in 2020.
Witts also said he was on track to play at the beginning of the season following a foot injury over the Christmas break which required surgery.
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