Early life
Swallow was born in Perth, Western Australia to a Dutch mother and an English father. [1] His older brother, Andrew, is a former captain of the North Melbourne Football Club and a dual Syd Barker Medallist. [2] He attended Shelley Primary School and Rossmoyne Senior High School, and played his junior football at Rossmoyne Junior Football Club. Swallow was named on the half-back line of the 2009 Under-18 All Australian team as a 16-year-old, and was awarded the Larke Medal as the Under-18 competition's best player. [3] [4]
In 2010, despite not yet being drafted by an AFL team, Swallow was permitted to play in Gold Coast's Victorian Football League (VFL) team prior to the club's inaugural season in 2011. This meant that if Gold Coast wanted to draft Swallow, the club had to select him with one of the first three picks in the 2010 AFL draft. [5] However, it was widely assumed that Swallow would be taken with the first pick in the draft, [6] which was confirmed on 19 November. [7]
AFL career
Swallow was part of the inaugural Gold Coast Suns team which played against Carlton in round 2 of the 2011 AFL season. He was also part of the club's first victory against Port Adelaide in round 5. After a 21-possession, two-goal performance against the Western Bulldogs in round 14, Swallow was nominated for the 2011 AFL Rising Star award.
In 2014, Swallow won the Gold Coast Suns Club Champion award, becoming the second player after Gary Ablett Jr. to win the award. [8]
In November 2018, Swallow signed a five-year contract extension with the Suns, tying him to the club until the end of 2024. [9]
In February 2019, Swallow was named as Gold Coast co-captain, alongside Jarrod Witts. [10]
Swallow was suspended for one match for striking Port Adelaide's Justin Westhoff following Gold Coast's loss to the Power in round 1 of the 2020 season. [11]
In February 2022, Swallow stepped down from the Suns' co-captaincy, with Touk Miller named in his place. [12]
In April 2024, Swallow took the field at Summit Sport and Recreation Park, becoming the first player to play at 22 different VFL/AFL venues. [13]
Playing exclusively for Gold Coast during its unsuccessful first fifteen years in the competition. As of the end of the 2024 season, he has not played a finals match in his 240 match career – longer than any retired or other active player who has played no career finals. [14]
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