Swallow calling for calm around coach
STAR midfielder David Swallow has thrown his support behind under-scrutiny Gold Coast chiefs Rodney Eade and Marcus Ashcroft.
The foundation player was responsible for one of the understatements of a topsyturvy AFL season when he said the Suns have “probably been a frustrating team at times”.
But he declared that the playing group is right behind coach Eade and football manager Ashcroft as a complete football department review looms.
Asked if players want to see Eade and Ashcroft continue on with their roles, Swallow said: “From the players point of view, yes, we’re really happy with how everything has gone.
“Obviously we haven’t had the results we’re after but we’re looking towards making every week the best performance we can have.
“We’re probably a frustrating team at times, we show our good is really good but our bad can be quite bad.
“Rocket’s (Eade) game plan seems to be working well at some parts of games but as a playing group we need to stick it out longer.
“That’s probably the missing piece at the moment.”
Swallow said he had not heard anything from the club about what is going on behind the scenes but agreed any review would probably not be on if the Suns had been positioned in the top four.
“But (a review) is something I think that most footy clubs do at the end of every season anyway,” he said.
“At the end of the day it’s not under our control. We just have to concentrate on what we bring against Collingwood this weekend.”
Swallow said he has full confidence in Eade doing the job after inheriting a basket case – with the top dozen players basically missing for two seasons before he arrived at Metricon Stadium.
“Rocket has been great for me this year and I know the boys are behind him,” he said.
“Hopefully we can finish the year as best we can.”
But that means eliminating the bad performances that have marred a six-win season, the number of games the Suns triumphed in 2016.
Performances such as last weekend, when the Suns led at quarter-time but melted badly against a Swans blowtorch,, have Swallow puzzled.
“I can’t really put my finger on exactly what it is but it’s probably a bit of a mental thing,” Swallow said.