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One of the few remaining Gold Coast foundation players, David Swallow, will join ex-Collingwood ruckman Jarrod Witts as the AFL club’s co-captains in 2019.
Swallow has been with the Suns since their first AFL campaign in 2011, playing under inaugural captain Gary Ablett and then last year’s co-captains Steven May and Tom Lynch.
With Lynch and May both leaving the club at the end of last year’s campaign, the 26-year-old has now been elevated to captaincy alongside Witts.
Coach Stuart Dew said Swallow’s five-year contract extension at the end of last year had shown his commitment to the club.
“Dave’s been here for the whole time and when he committed long-term for the rest of his career, I think that shows the type of person he is,” Dew said.
“He’s up for the challenge and certainly looking to lead this whole football club.”
Swallow said he hoped to be a leader through his actions on the field and was enthusiastic about the Suns’ long-term prospects.
“It’s quite a proud moment for myself,” he said.
“I’m really confident with the program and the leaders underneath that we’ll see success in the near future.”
Witts only joined the Suns at the end of 2017 but Dew said a meeting with the 26-year-old at the end of last season cemented his leadership credentials.
“Through the tough times through the end of last year Wittsy knocked on the door and said ‘OK, I’m in and how do we get it better?’
from that moment there I knew Jarrod had the club at heart and was committed to making sure we start our climb,” Dew said.
Witts too signed a five-year contract extension earlier this year, ensuring both of the Suns’ new captains are locked-in with the club for the long-term.
Pearce Hanley and Touk Miller have been named vice-captains, with 23-year-old Miller also signed to a long-term deal at the club.
The future of Lynch and May overshadowed much of the Suns’ 2018 campaign and chief executive Mark Evans said it was encouraging key members of the new leadership group had long-term deals with the club.
“Importantly for us, three of our four office-bearers – if that’s what you want to call them – have recently committed themselves long-term to the club,” Evans said.
Jarrod Harbrow is joined by Brayden Fiorini, George Horlin-Smith and Alex Sexton in the remainder of the Suns’ leadership group.
© AAP
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