DAVE’S LESSON

SWALLOW REVEALS LEARNING CURVE

HOW the revamped Suns were going to perform in 2019 was an unknown – even for captain Dave Swallow leading into the season.

But with a third of the season down and a 3-4 record following a 80-57 loss to West Coast in Perth, Swallow said the evidence was clear the team had shown growth.

“We would obviously like to have four or five wins out of those first seven games but we have definitely shown some growth,” Swallow said.

“It was a bit of an unknown how we were going to go this year.

“The boys have adopted the game plan and are really playing for each other.

“It’s about getting that consistency now. We are a young side so that will be our next challenge, being a consistent team and backing up each week.

“We feel like if we can do that we can be in most games and give ourselves a chance to win.”

Swallow said the Suns ability to fight their way back into contention when they were 42points down midway through the third quarter at Optus Stadium against the reigning premiers on Saturday was a clear example of the team’s development.

The 26-year-old said the Suns of 2018 could have let that margin blow out to an

even bigger loss. “It gives, especially the young guys, confidence that when we do turn up and play the way we can that we can match it with most teams,” Swallow said.

“I’m certainly proud of the boys’ effort to fight back into the game and not give up.”

Gold Coast will now turn their attention towards their Round 8 fixture against Melbourne this Saturday at Metricon Stadium.

The Demons have won just two of their opening seven games but are coming off a victory over Hawthorn.

“They are going to be a really tough match up,” Swallow said, though injured former captain Steven May will miss the trip back to the Gold Coast.

“They are a really good contested ball side. They had a few issues with their ball movement at the start of the year but it looks like they have arrested that.”