“Mentally, you know you can run out games because the players have belief in their bodies,” he said on Sunday.
“When it came to the last quarter they had the belief knowing we have done it before and can do it again.
“We have the fitness and belief we can run out games.”
While Gary Ablett’s 41 touches was the headline act, it was Swallow’s career second-half performance that had Gold Coast fans in a frenzy.
The 21-year-old workhorse was simply superb, producing his best football when the team needed it most.
His combative, head-down football nous inspired the SUNS chase after the Tigers took the lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
He finished with 27 disposals, nine marks, five clearances and four inside-50 entries, much to the delight of the 19,425 majority SUNS supporters that deafened Metricon Stadium.
“I was struggling a bit in the first half to even hit a target, but came good in the end and managed to get the one (goal),” Swallow said.
“The boys were pretty pumped after the game to get the win.
“It was a pretty tough night but we were stoked to start the year off with a win.”
Although the spilt round one fixture will see the Gold Coast rest up next week, Swallow said the team had already begun turning its attention towards 2013 Grand Finalists, Fremantle.
But the contested ball hunter added there would be plenty of added preparation for the clash against the Dockers at Patersons Stadium, what many consider is the toughest road game in the competition.
“It’s good to start with a win but I think the boys are under no illusion – we have a tough away game coming up in Freo.
“So a big couple of solid weeks on the track to really prepare ourselves because it is going to be tough to beat them.”
