The status of Gary Ablett’s shoulder and the progress of Jaeger O’Meara’s knees have dominated media speculation throughout the summer, with a plethora of newspaper columns and radio talkback shows focusing on the pair.
 
Along with the off-season acquisition of the relatively untried Mitch Hallahan, one player who has flown under the radar this pre-season is David Swallow. Given the West Australian became the first Gold Coast footballer to dethrone Ablett as club champion in 2014 this is rather surprising. But not something that would even be noticed by Swallow.
 
After a consistent start to his career at Metricon Stadium, Swallow raised the bar last winter to produce his best season to date. The 22-year-old increased from 19.3 possessions per game in 2013 to 23.3 per game in 2014, 2.3 to 5.0 clearances and 3.4 to 5.4 tackles per outing. A strong rise that may increase once again this season according to Gold Coast SUNS assistant coach Andy Lovell.
 
Since he arrived in Carrara as the club’s No. 1 draft pick from the 2010 crop, Swallow has carved out a reputation as a ball winning on-baller. Lovell explained the improvement in Swallow’s game last year was derived from a focus on accumulating more outside ball.
 
“I thought he really improved last year. The significant change in his game last year was his balance of uncontested to contested footy,” Lovell told SUNS TV’s Game Day Coaches Chat.
 
“I think from the day he walked in the door his ability to win contested ball and to drive through the contest he was renowned for it as a young player and he continued that on.
 
“His challenge was to get some outside ball and some impact in metres gained and shots on goal.
 
“He took a really significant step forward last year in that area and it was just a matter of tweaking a little bit of the decision making stuff around what he did when he wasn’t closest to the footy – does he put his head in the hole or does he look to get some ball on the outside and maybe do a little bit more attacking work.”
 
With 2014 well and truly in the past and the focus on what’s through the windscreen and not in the rear vision mirror, Lovell has predicted Swallow can improve once again this year and enter the top echelon of midfielder’s in the game.
 
Lovell revealed the focus for Swallow this season was to continue to concentrate on finding a balance between winning contested and uncontested ball. After having the most damaging scoreboard impact of his career last year with 15.20, this will be another focal point for improvement in 2015.
 
“Sometimes less is more, so you don’t always have to be running harder and running further, but being smart about where you run and those sort of things and what you do with the footy is just as important. That’s where we see his improvement coming from,” Lovell said.
 
“He had some shots on goal last year, he had over 20 shots on goals, so as a midfielder that’s significant.
 
“So I think it’s just a continuation on from that, is to continue to get a really good balance between offense and defence and uncontested and contested ball.”