“I was obviously home for the week but my sights are set for a big future on the Gold Coast,” said Swallow.
The former No. 1 AFL Draft Pick had his name thrown into a parochial West Australian report suggesting he and local products Harley Bennell, Brandon Matera and Jaeger O’Meara, would be targets of a West Coast Eagles recruiting strike.
However Swallow categorically ruled out any possibility of jumping ship to a rival AFL Club, and in doing so the clearance specialist extended a warm invitation to North Melbourne skipper and brother Andrew to join him on the Gold Coast.
“It would be nice to play with Andrew… I’d like to play with him one day but I’d much rather him play for the Gold Coast,” Swallow smirked.
In many ways it’s been a break-out season for some of the club’s midfielders in Dion Prestia, Matt Shaw, Trent McKenzie and O’Meara, but Swallow says the key to the Gold Coast’s success so far this season has been the fast-tracked development of the club’s key position players.
“The development of the big guys has been good for us,” he said.
“We’ve had some great depth in our team, especially in our ruckmen. With Zac going down and Charlie’s absence in the last six weeks, to have Tom Nicholls and Daniel Gorringe come in and play good footy and contribute for us has been great.
“Their development has been pretty impressive.”
Swallow hadn’t forecast a switch down back, but the 45-gamer says he’s enjoying the weekly challenges that come with being a shut-down defender.
“It’s certainly been different because I’ve been trying to win a lot of the footy for the last two years and to go back and play a shut-down role in the half-back flank has been different, but it’s something I have enjoyed,” he said.
“The exposure down back will probably give my game a bit more evenness when I do go back in the midfield.
“The coaching staff have been pleased with my job down back so as long as I’m playing my role for the team I’m happy with that.”
