After a year out of the professional football bubble, new Gold Coast Specialist Coach Andrew Swallow is enjoying every minute of being back in the elite environment. 

The older brother of David Swallow, Andrew moved to Byron Bay in the year after his retirement from the North Melbourne Football Club and spent time playing in the NEAFL for Aspley.

Swallow then joined the SUNS in his newly-created position in mid-October. 

“My role is to basically run the tackling program and also to do some body work around the stoppages,” Swallow told SUNS TV.

“They were probably the two things that I was half-decent at during my career so it’s sort of an easy fit and nice way to cut my teeth in coaching.

“We’ve been slowly progressing it with the tackling and building it up, especially as games get around the corner now and really start building into that.”

Andrew and David both originated from Western Australia, with the former moving to Melbourne when he was drafted by the Kangaroos in 2005.

He went on to play 224 games and captained North Melbourne, but after starting a new family decided to move to Queensland to be closer to his brother.

“It’s great to be at the SUNS where my brother Dave is and be closer to him.

“He’s got a little boy Charlie and I’ve got two kids. 

“Isabelle and my little boy Jude are very close in age with his little boy Charlie so it’s been really good to be up here and be able to support them.” 

Swallow works at the club on a part-time basis and is called upon for all main training sessions where he can add value to the tackling and stoppage drills.

He was in attendance for the club’s match simulation last week and will continue to work with the midfielders on their craft in the lead-up to more pre-season match simulations and game scenarios.