As the first Sun to play 200 games, David Swallow has been a constant force in the fledgling franchise’s history. But he’s missing one thing, writes ELIZA REILLY.
It would be a bitter pill to Swallow, says David.
The club’s first ever No.1 draft pick, Gold Coast’s games record holder, a former captain, a fairest and best … not even Queensland’s humidity can test the glue that has held the Suns together over the past dozen years.
But would David Swallow retire fulfilled if he failed to play a single final?
“I’d certainly love the opportunity to play finals. Whether I’d be content (if I didn’t)? I don’t know… probably not,” Swallow told CODE Sports.
“But I think in my time (left at the Suns), that seems within reach for me. I think it’s very attainable. We just have to stick at it and I’m hopeful that it will eventually happen.”
Few are more deserving of a September soiree than Swallow. The 30-year-old is one of two sole survivors, alongside Sam Day, who remain from the Suns’ inaugural 2011 list, sticking fast through patches of turbulence.
When others sought greener pastures, Swallow stayed.
It never stopped the rumour mill churning. It’s been rare for Swallow to go more than a few years without speculation of a move back home to Western Australia arising. As he prepares to play in front of friends and family on Friday night against West Coast, the East Fremantle product said he’s never come close to seriously pursuing a move.
“There’s always going to be talk. The way things have paved out across my career, I’ve had a few sliding door moments,” he said.
“I had a few injuries and chose to stick with the club and I’ve loved my time at the Suns and up in Queensland. It’s probably more speculation than anything.”
The injuries Swallow mentions were at one stage career-threatening. In 2016, the ferocious midfielder had surgery on both knees to rid him of cruciate ligament damage. In the throes of rehabilitation, Swallow’s pain worsened. But he ploughed on and unknowingly came chillingly close to the point of no return.
It’s why Swallow’s 200th milestone match last month, a season-defining win over reigning premiers Geelong, was so widely celebrated. Not only was he the first Sun to achieve the feat, but it was a miracle he even got there in the first place.
Without wanting to wind a champion down, it’s that never-say-die attitude Swallow hopes to be remembered for when he does eventually hang up the boots.
“Not really to be honest,” Swallow said when asked if he’d given much thought to the legacy he wanted to leave. “It’s a hard one to answer but I suppose I’ve always tried to give my best to the footy club and that’s been my mentality.
“It hasn’t been perfect or anything like that but I always want to give my best to the jumper each week and hopefully that’s maybe how I’ll be remembered.”
That same defiance has been synonymous with Gold Coast’s AFL existence. While the bubbles are still flowing in Tasmania following a long overdue acceptance by the AFL, the Suns can finally shed the expansion club label.
Critics have long come for the fledgling franchise, questioning the league’s decision to overlook a footy heartland in favour of the Glitter Strip. A lack of on-field success hasn’t helped and some have even gone as far as calling for Gold Coast to be relocated to Tasmania.
Swallow is adamant Gold Coast’s place in the AFL should have never been up for debate.
“There’s always going to be people with opinions. That’s the industry,” he said. “I can only speak for what footy has done up on the Gold Coast.
“Certainly in my time, you look at participation, you look at all these key markers and footy is going extremely well in Queensland, especially on the Gold Coast.
“We’re building a generation of younger kids who have grown up following the Suns. In the past 12 or so years, interest has grown immensely. I think it’s only going to get better. Playing finals will only add to that interest and love for footy.”
More than 55,000 Queenslanders played Aussie rules last year. With that has come a new wave of talent. Gold Coast’s Academy has been a crucial development, producing the likes of Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Lachie Weller, Connor Budarick and Caleb Graham. Paired with budding superstars like Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell, it’s keeping the veteran young.
“It’s just as exciting as the group I came through with in my first few years in terms of talent. It’s all there,” Swallow said. “It’s just a matter of developing and getting that lived experience together. In the past five or six weeks, I feel like some of our younger guys are starting to believe that they belong in the AFL.
“I’m trying to pass down my experience of playing for 12 or so years to some of our younger guys and do whatever I can to assist those guys while obviously still trying to improve my game.
“There’s still some things I want to achieve and both myself and the footy club want to do. That gives me a bit of purpose to continue helping my teammates and help the club get to where we want to get to.”
This Sun isn’t set just yet.
