Season recap:
Reaching 20 games this year, David Swallow had his most consistent season since 2014 when he played all 22 games. The 25-year-old was as reliable as they come in the midfield and was once again in the SUNS’ leadership group. He provided plenty of guidance throughout the year and stepped up when the club’s other leaders were out of the side through injury.
Best performances:
Swallow’s best match was in Round 6 against the Crows at Adelaide Oval. Swallow was one of the best on ground, with his season-high 32 disposals and three goals earning him two Brownlow votes. He reached 32 disposals again on two other occasions, in Round 1 against North Melbourne and Round 15 against Collingwood.
Moment of the season:
Swallow had some standout performances on the field in 2018, but perhaps his most proud moment was leading the boys out as skipper for the first time in Round 7 against the Bulldogs in Ballarat.
We're ready to go here at Mars Stadium, with Swallow leading the boys out! pic.twitter.com/OxmP6hNOO7
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) May 5, 2018
What’s next?:
Swallow will be aiming to complete another full pre-season before tackling the 2019 season. Another full year of football will be his goal while he still continues to grow his leadership and develop his game further.
From the coach:
“No surprises here, what you see is what you get with Dave. He’s been a leader for us all year and is one of the most courageous players in the team. He puts his body on the line every week for us and sets a great example for the younger boys in the team. His leadership was valuable in the midfield throughout the year and he has to be commended on captaining the in Ballarat. We expect him to play a big role in our plans moving forward.” - Stuart Dew