Swallow has the skills to be new Suns skipper
SUNS football manager Jon Haines says David Swallow is a clear candidate for the vacant captaincy position after taking a step towards becoming a one-club player.
Swallow has already received a groundswell of support by Suns fans who want the midfielder to inherit the role left by Tom Lynch and Steven May following their exits.
The 25-year-old ignored the lure of instant success elsewhere and re-signed until 2024 this week in a move that means he’s staying until he’s 31.
Haines said the man revered by all at the Suns was a worthy nominee for the captaincy position.
“I’m sure that feeling would be out there and he is one of our leaders who has been leading our footy club for a long time,” Haines said.
“That process will unfold over the summer but he is a clear leader and we would love him to be the first of many to be a one-club player with us.”
Swallow could be sacrificing his chances of a premiership by staying at the Suns who are rebuilding after failing to find success in eight years in the AFL. The club are poised to take their number of list changes to 14 before 2019.
But where others see risk, Haines said Swallow saw opportunity.
“Dave knows this playing group as well as anyone and has great confidence in (them),” Haines said.
“We have great confidence in the people we have appointed and in the structural changes we have made.
“With that comes new energy and ideas but also confidence that we have the right people in the right roles.”
The West Australian was the first Suns player taken in their inaugural draft in 2011 and the No.1 selection has strong roots to the city.
Swallow’s partner Georgia Homer, who welcomed their first child Charlie this year, runs a business on the Gold Coast and has done the food catering for the club in recent years. Swallow’s brother Andrew also recently joined the club in a coaching role.