GEELONG midfielder Mitch Duncan hopes to get back to his best after the bye, conceding he has been more inconsistent than he would like this season.

The premiership midfielder said he was working on winning more of the ball himself rather than receiving it so much as he adjusts to his role inside a midfield bolstered by the addition of Patrick Dangerfield.

A beautiful user of the ball, Duncan could give the Cats a real lift during the second half of the season as he continues to work on rectifying some aspects creeping into his game.

Match preview: Geelong v Sydney Swans

"It's probably not always getting my possessions by receiving the ball [but] getting in there and winning the ball myself with the likes of the other midfield players," Duncan said.

Duncan was the Cats' most in-form midfielder when he hurt his foot midway through last season and then had an interrupted pre-season.

But he says his foot has been fine and did not make any excuses for what he described as up and down form.

In 2016, Duncan is gathering 17.9 per cent of his disposals in the back 50 and just 7.7 per cent in the forward 50, the highest and lowest percentages respectively for his career. 

His percentage of uncontested possessions in 2016 has been greater than all but one season of his career previously, however, he is averaging more tackles per game this year.

Regardless of the numbers, what seems rarer in 2016 are the gliding runs through space that make him so dangerous to opponents trying to defend his perfectly weighted kicks inside 50.

Duncan knows there is no better time to be at his best than against the Sydney Swans this week.

"They are going to come out firing," he said.

The Cats know that whichever team wins the stoppage numbers will get an edge on their opponents. 

"[We have to] embrace that and make sure we don't get out-pressured."

Duncan is embracing a personal challenge to get better.

When he does that, the Cats are a genuine contender.