David Swallow earns recall for Gold Coast’s maiden final as Damien Hardwick confirms decision

Retiring Gold Coast favourite David Swallow has been locked in for the side’s historic AFL finals debut against Fremantle.

The club’s inaugural No.1 pick in 2010, the last remaining foundation player at the Suns, announced his retirement at the end of this season on Tuesday.

Recovering from a knee injury and boasting just seven AFL games this season, the former captain and 32-year-old appeared at long odds to feature against the Dockers in Perth on Saturday.

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It would have meant he retired with the unenviable distinction of most games played (247) without a contesting a final.

But coach Damien Hardwick pulled a surprise early selection call on Tuesday night.

“The man will play,” he told Fox Sports.

“We’re not giving him a game. He’s earnt the game.”

The elimination final will be the Suns’ first September action in their 15th season.

Swallow was a teenager when he arrived at Carrara and played a VFL season in 2010, before he was selected first in that year’s draft.

David Swallow will get to play in at least one final before ending his 15-year AFL career. Credit: AAP

Believing he still owed the club, Swallow knocked back offers to leave while others in that crop departed for established rivals and won premierships.

“Character. It epitomises what our footy club is built on the back of,” Hardwick said.

“He’s earnt the right to play a finals game. What we want is to see this player earn the opportunity to play in a couple more as well.”

Hardwick often used the versatile, tough talent as a substitute in his debut season in charge last year.

The coach could take that option again against a Dockers side that’s deployed their retiring veteran Nat Fyfe in similar fashion this season.

Swallow, along with 149-gamer Sean Lemmens, told teammates of his decision to retire earlier on Tuesday and had downplayed hopes of playing on Saturday when speaking to reporters.

“It’s been a long journey, that’s for sure. Lots of ups and downs,” Swallow said.

“Good things always come to an end. The time feels right. It’s never easy, these calls.

“The group’s in the best position it ever has been and that’s the main thing. Everyone involved is ready to take the next step.”

Suns chief executive Mark Evans described Swallow as “the most humble, team player who attacked every contest as if it was the most important moment in the game”.

Veteran Suns champion David Swallow announced his AFL retirement earlier this year. Credit: Getty

He said his commitment to a club, that began operating out of modest facilities now dubbed “the tin shed”, had been vital.

“At a time where the club was in turmoil, David was one of the first to offer to extend his commitment to the club, and we were able to stabilise and build off the back of that,” he said.

Swallow smiled when reflecting on the early days.

“We’ve got the tin sheds over there, sort of a daily reminder of what the club was like,” he said.

“Fast forward 15 years, it goes bloody quick but the club’s endured a lot.”

Speaking after the Suns’ historic finals-clinching win over Essendon last week, Hardwick told Channel 7 it would be a tough decision at selection.

“He certainly is (in the mix). He was close this week. So, look, it’s one of those ones. It’s the heart versus the head,” Hardwick said of Swallow.

“So we’ve just got to work our way through it. But look, one thing I will say, there’ll be statues built over this footy club at some stage. He’ll be the one that they build first.

“You know, he stayed when everyone else probably left. And, you know, he set the fabric of our footy club. And he’s so important to the make-up of this organisation. He’s so important.

“So it’s going to be a really, really hard decision. There’s no doubt about that. But what I do know is whichever way the decision goes, he will be fully supportive of this group.”