SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire admits he's excited about the business end of the AFL season and believes his club is on track to have an impact in September.
The Swans have been in the top eight for most of the season and while they've missed some opportunities to push for a top-four spot, they are well placed to earn a home final in the coming weeks.
They have an important assignment against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night before closing out their season with Richmond, St Kilda, Geelong and the Brisbane Lions.
The Swans are also due for some good news on the injury front, with Gary Rohan, Trent Dennis-Lane, Matt Spangher, Jed Lamb, Mike Pyke and Andrejs Everitt all due to return over the next fortnight.
It was clear from Thursday's press conference that Longmire, who is in his first year as a senior coach, is relishing what lies ahead in 2011.
"The good thing for us is we're starting to get some players back," he said.
"Shane Mumford and Kieren Jack in particular have missed a lot of footy the second half of the year.
"They've played the last couple of games and are hopefully starting to hit a little bit of form.
"We're getting some players back through our reserves who can start to put some pressure on and we can start to get some real game-time into them about playing senior football.
"I’m really excited about the last part of the season, but we know we've got a big challenge.
"Essendon this week are in that finals race as well as we are and fighting for the spots that we'll be fighting for, so it's a tough challenge for us and one we've got to be up to."
Dennis-Lane is one player Longmire clearly sees in his best side heading towards the finals.
The 22-year-old forward has had a frustrating season with injury, playing just twice in the senior side, but is on track for a return to the reserves this week.
"He's missed a bit of footy the last month; he's just had an unlucky run this year," Longmire said.
"Three or four times we've had him selected in the team and he hasn't been able to get through the last training session.
"So we're hoping to get some game-time into him this week as well.
"He's a player we'd like to have back in our team; his goalkicking sense is really important for us."
The Swans received further good news this week with Adam Goodes extending his contract until the end of 2013.
The durable 31-year-old has played every game this season to take his career tally to 293 matches.
If the Swans reach the second week of the finals, Goodes could become just the second player in the club's history to play 300 games.
He is also well within reach of Michael O'Loughlin's club-record tally of 303 AFL games.
"We're hopeful that Goodesy plays 'til he's 45 and we can wheel him out of here in a wheelchair," Longmire said.
"He's obviously a captain of our footy club. His last game against the Bulldogs was sensational and hopefully he can keep that form up.
"He's a great ambassador for our club and he'll be pushing Mick O'Loughlin's games record pretty shortly.
"You couldn't get two better blokes I reckon at the top of your tree in terms of games records."
Most matches played for the Swans:
303 Michael O'Loughlin (1995-2009)
293 Adam Goodes (1999-present)
273 Jude Bolton (1998-present)
260 John Rantall (1963-72; 1976-79)
251 Mark Browning (1975-87)
246 Stephen Wright (1979-92)
