MOTIVATED by last year's Grand Final defeat and buoyed by a full pre-season, spearhead Kurt Tippett is ready to banish the "patchy" football that has marked his two years with the Sydney Swans.
After joining the Swans as a high-price recruit at the end of 2012, Tippett has endured the most interrupted period of his career, playing 26 games across two seasons because of suspension and injury.
It's been a frustrating run for the 27-year-old, but he is well placed to deliver on expectation in 2015 after a summer campaign he hopes will take his game to a new level.
"My last two years have only been patchy and I want to build that consistency into my game," Tippett told AFL.com.au.
"Last year was a little bit disrupted for me with some knee issues, but I'm looking to finish off the pre-season really well with about six weeks to go.
"The biggest thing I've been able to achieve this pre-season is just consistency with training.
"Completing a full pre-season just gives you the confidence to be able to go out there and hopefully play every game."
When available, Tippett has shown what he's capable of at his second club, lifting his goals-per-game average from 1.8 to a career-high 2.65 since leaving Adelaide.
Often used as a deep forward option in his partnership with star forward Lance Franklin, he won more of his possessions inside 50 than any other player last season (62 per cent).
The Swans, however, have planned for the 202cm big man to spend more time in the ruck this season to capitalise on his summer gains.
"That's a new challenge that's been thrown up this year, because I've been able to train consistently," Tippett said.
"I was able to play both roles at the Crows and I enjoyed that, so I see that as a big challenge and an awesome opportunity."
In Coffs Harbour for a three-day training camp, the Swans have been keen to put their disappointing end to 2014 behind them and focus on the season ahead.
The 63-point Grand Final loss to Hawthorn won't be easy to move on from, but it is providing added motivation for Tippett, who joined the Swans 74 days after their 2012 premiership.
"It takes a long time and I'm not sure if you're ever able to put that to rest because it's something you strive for and put so much work into," the powerful forward said of last year's result.
"It hurts a team to go through that, but it's part of the game and we've only got one option: to get up, get better, improve and hopefully get back there.
"You can dwell on it and live there, but we don't want to live in 2014. We want to live in the now, so we're grateful for the opportunity to go again."
