Ablett just defending himself: Swallow

Gold Coast midfielder David Swallow believes Gary Ablett's frustrated lash with an elbow is a result of the close attention the Suns skipper receives.

Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett

A Gold Coast teammate says Gary Ablett's lash with an elbow is how he defends himself from tagging. (AAP)

Gold Coast midfielder David Swallow believes the elbow which could have cost Gary Ablett a shot at a third Brownlow Medal is a common way for the Suns skipper to defend himself from relentless tagging.

Ablett was cleared by the AFL's match review panel after appearing to elbow Western Bulldog Liam Picken during Sunday's 45-point win for the Suns.

The panel said Ablett's contact behind play on Picken in the second quarter was below that required to constitute a reportable offence.

The decision means the 30-year-old's hopes of winning the league's most prestigious individual honour for a record-equalling third time are still alive.

Picken had been irking Ablett throughout the first half of Sunday's contest, during which the champion midfielder was restricted to just eight touches.

And Swallow says you'll see plenty of similar clashes whenever Ablett is being tagged, and it's merely part and parcel of the give and take such tactics involve.

"That kind of thing always happens in footy," he said.

"You probably just don't see it as much. With the attention that Gary gets I'm sure it happens a few times a game.

"But yeah, good to have him available to play this weekend definitely."

Ablett is now free to travel to Adelaide for this Sunday's clash with the Crows.

That game is the first in a tough six-game stretch which includes matches against Hawthorn, Sydney and West Coast.

After the win over the Bulldogs lifted the Suns to third on the ladder, with seven wins from nine matches, many are expecting the expansion club to fall back over their difficult stretch.

"It's probably our toughest draw over the next six weeks," Swallow said.

"The boys are looking forward to the challenge definitely and it'll give us a true indication of where we're at."

Another boost ahead of the Adelaide match is Kade Kolodjashnij being rewarded for his impressive first-year form with this week's Rising Star award nomination.

The Tasmanian returned from a knee injury against the Bulldogs and said his AFL career has gone perfectly so far.

"It has surprised me a bit," he said.

"I'm finding the pace of the game pretty easy at the moment so it's been pretty good ... I couldn't ask for anything more at the moment."


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Source: AAP


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