Gold Coast (VFL) – previously East Fremantle (WAFL)
Height: 186cm
Weight: 83kg
Date Of Birth: 19.11.1992
Position: Inside/Out Midfielder

Strengths:

- Elite work-rate in both directions

- Elite ball winning skills both inside contests and in open space

- Excellent attack on the football

- Very good decision making skills, general smarts and composure

- Very good disposal – dual sided, neat and penetrating by foot and clean, powerful and precise by hand

- Ideal ‘physical specs’ for an AFL midfielder

- Clean hands

- Good overhead marking

- Good pace off the mark, pace over distance, evasiveness and ‘cruising speed’ – can work his way through traffic, burst out of congestion to open up a stoppage and carry the ball over distance

- Elite endurance

- Pushes forward effectively to be a direct scoreboard contributor

- Versatile

Weaknesses:

- No major weaknesses

Bio:

In 2008, Swallow had an excellent 2010 U16 Championships – in particular starring on the big stage of the MCG on grand final day, almost single handedly willing his team over the line.

As a 16 year old, Swallow was outstanding in 2009. Named in the All-Australian U18 team on a half back flank, he also won the Larke Medal (joint) for the best player at the 2009 AFL U18 Championships averaging 21 disposals, 3 marks, 4 clearances and 3 tackles from 5 games, as well as debuting for and playing 4 games for at senior level in the WAFL and averaging 20 disposals, 3 marks and 1 goal per game – which influenced Gold Coast to commit to him before he even entered his eligible draft year!

In 2010, he has been arguably Gold Coast’s best performed player in the VFL, featuring in the team’s best players 10 times out of 15 games so far, as well as contributing 19 goals. One of his best performances came in a televised game on ABC where he had 19 disposals and kicked 5 goals versus Casey Scorpions.

He is the younger brother of current North Melbourne midfielder, Andrew Swallow.

Stats:

2009 WAFL Stats

• 11.5 kicks, 8.8 handballs
• 2.8 marks
• 2.7 tackles
• 1.3 goals, 1.8 behinds
• 3.0 Inside 50s

2010 VFL Stats

Media:

• David Swallow – Gold Coast Suns AFL Profile
• Swallow, Hooper 2009 Larke Medallists
• West Australian Swallow joins Gold Coast FC
• How the Coasters enticed Swallow to take flight
• Gold Coast snaps up David Swallow
• Gold Coast FC’s David Swallow likely to be draft pick no. 1 this year

Potential Clubs:

In late 2009, the Gold Coast Suns committed to using one of their first 3 2010 National Draft picks on him, being granted permission from the AFL to allow him to train with the club and play for it’s VFL team in 2010.

Expect his name to be read out as no. 1 draft selection of 2010.

Summary:

As far as young midfield prospects go, David Swallow is the ‘complete package’ in terms of attributes and also one of the best performed under 18 players in draft history.

He projects as a future elite midfielder of the AFL.

With a very mature body for his age and a high level of fitness he will also be more than ready to start round 1 for Gold Coast and is highly likely to be the clear pre-season favourite to win the 2011 AFL Rising Star.

Draft Range: National Draft 1

Profile contributed by wceblog