One of Gold Coast’s newly-announced AFLW assistant coaches, Andrew Swallow is looking to have an impact across the club in 2020.

Swallow, brother of SUNS captain David, was one of four AFLW assistant coaches announced on Friday alongside the women’s program’s inaugural Coaches’ Partner Kool Kids Training College.

The former North Melbourne AFL skipper has already held a specialist role in the SUNS’ male program and will now use that experience to oversee the club’s AFLW midfield for the 2020 season.

“It’s just another opportunity to learn,” Swallow told SUNS Media.

“I think to create something from the ground up – I’ve been part of the men’s program now for 12 months and it’s just another chance to step into something new and expand my coaching career.

“To be able to do the women’s and have a fair bit more input and do it from the start is just a great opportunity. 

“It also allows for the footy club to have someone in both programs so we can bring what we’ve been doing in the men’s across to the women and really grow their professionalism.” 

Swallow first came on board with the club’s women’s program earlier in the year, assisting Senior Coach David Lake during the 2019 QW Winter Series.

The two-month program allowed him to immerse himself in a different coaching landscape and build relationships with players who would soon become AFLW-listed to the SUNS.

“The Winter Series was great for myself to get a taste of coaching women and what that’s like and we’re they’re at with skill level and development,” Swallow said.

“That was a really good opportunity and now I feel like I go in knowing a fair few of them and we can start to grow the program from here. 

“It’s a really exciting list – we’ve got a blend of a lot of youth but also some experienced players who have played a bit of footy. 

“It will be really interesting to see how it all blends together.”

Coaching alongside Swallow in the QW Winter Series was Darryl White, John Taylor and Matt Bedford, with all three also being ratified as AFLW assistants on Friday.

“I think as we go in now we’ll settle down in our roles,” Swallow said of the coaching group.

“It’s great to have DJ (Darryl White) who’s had a fair bit of experience in the AFL and then to have a couple of guys in Matt Bedford and John Taylor who have come from coaching a fair bit of women’s footy.

“I think the blend of us with Lakey as the coach, I think we’ll be a good team.”

The AFLW team will have two weeks of induction before beginning pre-season training on November 25.