Gold Coast Football Club has secured one of its future draft picks 12 months out from the 2010 AFL National Draft.
West Australian 17-year-old David Swallow will join the Gold Coast Football Club in November this year and train under GCFC development program.

He will play for the Club’s VFL team next year and benefit from the club’s development program as it prepares for AFL football in 2011.

Swallow, younger brother of North Melbourne’s Andrew Swallow, has been identified by the Gold Coast as a top 3 draft pick for 2010. The Club has the first three draft picks in the 2010 AFL National Draft.

GCFC Coach Guy McKenna said the Gold Coast’s guaranteed draft picks next year presented unique circumstances which had allowed GCFC to approach David and his family and make an offer for him to join the Club a year early.

“David will be able to join our program and have the benefits of an extra 12 months conditioning and playing with his new team before we enter the AFL in 2011,” he said.

“I am lucky to have two years to get ready for my AFL coaching debut and I think David and his family have also recognised the benefits he will receive by entering our program a year early. Ultimately it was David’s decision.”

McKenna said the move was unusual but would not be repeated with any other potential GCFC 2010 draft candidates.

“Thanks to the West Australian talent pathway he has followed and the work he has done with East Fremantle this year he is well and truly ready to begin his journey to AFL. We are excited to have such a unique opportunity to develop him into a first class AFL player.”

Swallow is a hard running half back / midfielder and was a joint winner of the Larke Medal for best and fairest player at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championship earlier this year and an All Australian.

Swallow is not one of the eligible 17-year-olds GCFC can recruit to the Club for 2010 as his birthday sits outside the six month window granted to the Club. He has completed his schooling and will take part in an AFL Players Association Football Apprenticeship as well as structured vocational programs outside of his training and playing commitments.