STAR Gold Coast midfielder David Swallow wants to return for the last game of the season if he gets through this week's NEAFL game unscathed.

The Suns 2014 best and fairest winner and No.1 draft pick in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft has not played senior football since round 15, 2015 after suffering a knee injury.

Swallow's absence along with Jaeger O'Meara, Gary Ablett and Dion Prestia for significant parts of the past two seasons has made it nearly impossible for the Suns to gain any momentum.

Suns coach Rodney Eade said Swallow, 23, played about 60 per cent of the game last week in the NEAFL and a decision would be made next week about him playing against Port Adelaide.

"David is pretty keen to play. I think that will be a collective decision – medical, high-performance and David himself," Eade said.

Eade insisted no risks would be taken.

"He has had a long rehab and wants to have reward for effort," Eade said.

"Having played last week, and even this week in the seconds, will be a good confidence boost for the pre-season, but getting a senior game will just add to that confidence."

The Suns' loss to Essendon on Sunday was its third consecutive defeat by eight points and one of the most disappointing of a year that, despite being cruelled with injury, has yielded six wins.

Eade said the team was keen to make amends against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium and he hoped last week's loss to the Bombers was an aberration.