Gold Coast co-captain David Swallow says the battling SUNS need another veteran playing presence to help steer the club in 2020.

Following the model laid out by Brisbane when it successfully recruited former Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge to help its young team, the SUNS have been linked to retiring Hawk Jarryd Roughead and more recently Adelaide livewire Eddie Betts.

Although Swallow wouldn't be drawn on specific players, he said that "type" of presence would do wonders for the young SUNS.

"It'd probably be very beneficial for us, I'd imagine," Swallow said.

"I'm pretty sure Dewy would be looking to do something like that. I don't know who they get in, but just to help myself and Witta (Jarrod Witts) and the other leaders with a young group would be very beneficial."

Swallow and Witts have had a rough first year in charge following the departures of 2018 captains Tom Lynch (Richmond) and Steven May (Melbourne).

The pair have been magnificent on the field – again the best two in Saturday's thumping loss to Brisbane – but have had to help pick up a club that has now lost 16 straight matches. 

Swallow said the main challenge with leading when momentum was going against his team was keeping young players focused on the next contest rather than lamenting what had just been.

"It's been a challenge for us, but we'll continue to learn and continue to teach those guys, it's all we can do at the moment," he said.