"Selection number one, the number one draft pick in the 2010 AFL National Draft, Gold Coast SUNS, player number 211621 David Swallow."

With those words, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou officially ushered in the first of the GC SUNS elite young talent.

After guiding Swallow through a VFL campaign, Coach Guy McKenna was well aware of the talent he had at his disposal.

"He’s a professional almost already and there is not a lot we have to do, we just have to give him the opportunity which I know he will grab with both hands."

For super talented West Australian David Swallow, the journey to the 2010 Draft had been a little different having already played a season with the GC SUNS in the VFL competition.

"Once I was up here and playing with the SUNS in the VFL year, I kind of knew I was on the journey and the Draft was just part of that journey."

Supported by his parents who had already celebrated the start of an AFL career with Andrew Swallow drafted in 2005, David humbly accepted the Drafts highest accolade and completed the obligatory media interviews before quietly slipping out to celebrate the occasion in private.

"Yeah Mum and Dad flew over and my two older brothers so it was nice to have all the family up and I think it was my birthday the day after so we had a few beers to celebrate."

Since making his AFL debut with the GC SUNS in 2011, David Swallow has shown every bit of the potential the List Managers first saw in him whilst applying himself with the dedication of a ten year veteran and while injury restricted his 2012 campaign, Swallow is focussed and doing the hard work in preparation for the season ahead.

"All you can control is playing footy and doing all the right stuff."

“Hopefully the first couple of years I have been able to play up to my potential.”