David Swallow ready to take mantle as Gold Coast Suns’ No.1 midfielder

DAVID Swallow’s moment has arrived. Eight years aftter being selected as the No.1 draft pick, he is ready to assume the mantle as Gold Coast’s top midfielder.

THE moment David Swallow was drafted for has arrived.

When Gold Coast selected Swallow with the first pick in its inaugural draft the Suns were choosing a player who would learn his craft under Gary Ablett, go on to share the heavy lifting and eventually assume the mantle as the club's No.1 midfielder.

Swallow will take over that role on Sunday in his first game under new coach Stuart Dew against the Lions at Southport.

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The 25-year-old West Australian has lived up to his side of the bargain even with a wretched run of injury which robbed him of the best part of two years.

He was neck and neck with Ablett in voting when the then captain went down with a shoulder injury in Round 16, 2014 and went on to be the first player other than the dual Brownlow medallist to be named club champion.

The following year was a write-off with both players managing just six games each.

Then in 2016 Ablett played 14 games while Swallow did not make an appearance and although Ablett’s form was solid by any normal player’s standards he was nothing like the Ablett of old and finished sixth in club championship voting, 118 votes shy of winner Tom Lynch.

David Swallow is primed for a big season.

It is worth noting that with Swallow back in the side last year providing the unheralded bodywork his teammates love him for, Ablett took the same number of games as 2016 to win his fourth club championship. Swallow was runner-up.

While the forward line and defence is still staffed by foundation players Lynch, Steven May, Sam Day and Rory Thompson, Swallow is the only surviving member of a midfield that once boasted Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy and Ablett, and later included Jaeger O’Meara.

The good news for Suns fans is that with the birth of son Charlie and the arrival of his brother Andrew, a former Kangaroos captain, to Byron Bay, Swallow feels more at home on the Gold Coast than ever.

“It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for me and my career and also the footy club and it has taken a while to feel like this is home,’’ he said.

“But I have a bit more family around now and it is really good.

“I think because I was one of the first here I have a sense of wanting the place to do well.

“We can delve into all that has happened for whatever reason but in terms of where the footy club is now, I feel it is pretty well placed.’’

Playing inside is his bread and butter but he has explosive pace and Dew believes he can also be used with devastating effect in the forward 50.

“He’s powerful, I’ve got a new appreciation for him,’’ he said.

“He is so ballistic, when he runs past you he has a full head of steam.’’

Originally published as David Swallow ready to take mantle as Gold Coast Suns’ No.1 midfielder