By Michael Whiting
For this week's NAB Rising Star nominee David Swallow, 2011 was all about learning.
Learning how to handle the tag of being a No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick, learning how to prepare for matches, learning how to win and lose on the big stage and learning how to handle the bright lights of the Gold Coast.
His journey reflects that of so many of the GC SUNS players, teenagers coming together to see how far they can take the AFL's 17th club.
Swallow got a head start when he travelled from his home in Perth as a 17-year-old to play a season in the VFL with the GC SUNS on the promise they'd take him in the first three picks of last year's draft.
They took him at No.1.
Swallow had won the Larke Medal in 2009 as the national under-18 championships' best player, and backed it up last season with a fourth place finish in the VFL's best and fairest count.
With that much junior success, he was certain to be scrutinised early in his AFL career.
But nobody puts more pressure on Swallow than the young man himself.
Despite playing 11 of the GC SUNS 12 matches this season, and never falling below 15 disposals in any match (and that was when hobbling on an injured ankle against North Melbourne), the 18-year-old is looking for more.
"I've been playing OK footy for a while, without really dominating or doing a hell of a lot," he said.
"I'm always wanting to play better and do the best I can for the team and I don't think I was doing that for the first five or six games, but I'm slowly getting there and been improving each week.
"I've always set high goals as a kid and this year nothing has changed. I've set pretty high expectations and standards so I've tried to live up to them as much as I can.
"The pressure I put on myself is to perform the best I can every week and it comes from myself and not really the coaches or anyone else."
Swallow showed glimpses in the early weeks of why he was so highly rated.
His fourth quarter performance against Port Adelaide in round five was a major reason for the GC SUNS first ever victory.
His aggression at the contest, clean hands and acceleration through packs are quickly becoming trademarks – striking similarities to his boyhood hero Chris Judd.
Watching Judd as a youngster and now learning from Gary Ablett out in the middle is the best education any aspiring midfielder can have, and it's one fpr which Swallow is grateful.
The quietly-spoken teenager said Ablett and Michael Rischitelli had helped his midfield game, while defender Nathan Bock's leadership had also been influential in his early development.
"I've been trying to get my routine for games right," Swallow said.
"I've been doing a lot of stretching. Ice baths and recovery help because AFL is a pretty brutal game, and especially as a young kid you get beat around a fair bit, so I'm trying to get my body right to play as many games as I can."
Last Saturday against the Western Bulldogs Swallow tallied 21 disposals and two goals and was rewarded with the Rising Star nomination. He says it was his best match of the season.
He lives with fellow GC SUNS youngsters Brandon Matera (who has also won a nomination) and Trent McKenzie and said they helped keep him relaxed and focused on his footy.
"Most of the guys have got similar goals and want to achieve success, so I think having a young group together, if we recognise the opportunity we've got, we can have a successful couple of years," he said.
