ALTHOUGH Gary Ablett had yet another 40-plus possession game for the Suns, coach Guy McKenna pointed to fellow midfielder David Swallow as the inspiration behind Saturday night's 18-point victory over Richmond.
The No.1 pick of the 2010 NAB AFL Draft had 27 touches in his 52nd appearance and with the game on the line, he produced his best football.
Barely a minute after the Tigers took the lead early in the fourth quarter, the 21-year-old picked the ball up just outside the Richmond 50m line, avoided a tackler and raced along the centre wing, before composing himself and kicking to Tom Lynch's advantage 25m out - leading to a mark and goal that put Gold Coast ahead.
"I'd almost say he turned the game for us," McKenna said after the gutsy victory.
"A couple of his dashes off half-back, through the wing when everyone was almost looking for an inspiration and we'd normally turn to the fella that wears number nine (Ablett), but I thought Junior's (Swallow's) ability to stand up was pivotal. I thought he got us going."
Swallow's performance was indicative of a mature performance from the Suns which left McKenna and skipper Ablett proud.
"Their maturity mentally to get through the game I thought was pretty special," McKenna said.
"The boys did it themselves. It was quite a special win by the boys. I said to 'Gaz' after the game 'super effort, you must be proud of them'.
"He said 'I couldn't shut them up'. The voice of the playing group, not just him or Michael Rischitelli.
"The whole group was screaming at him when he had to be screamed at – he rarely gets screamed at – and the other players. It was just fantastic."
