SYDNEY Swans veteran Ben McGlynn says he's used his injury-riddled 2015 season to drive him this year as he enters the twilight of his career.
McGlynn managed just nine games for the Swans last season thanks to a horror run of calf and hamstring complaints that started in the pre-season, and was limited to just three appearances after round nine.
The 30-year-old made it back to play in the Swans' finals losses to Fremantle and North Melbourne, but the team's straight sets exit only compounded what was a terrible 12 months.
The zippy onballer had a career-best season in 2014 when he polled 12 Brownlow medal votes after averaging over 20 possessions per game and kicking 24 goals, and says his poor run last year has pushed him over a long summer.
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"It was very frustrating, it's a tough game and I'm getting towards the end of my career so you need to be doing everything you can to stay out on the park," McGlynn said on Thursday.
"Unfortunately my pre-season last year was interrupted with calf injuries so I was chasing my tail for the whole year to keep up with the pace of the game.
"That's in the past now, we've put in a new program that's hopefully going to put me in good stead for the rest of this year.
"We stripped it back and my pre-season was more about leg strength and size so I didn't start running until February and did a gym-based program.
"I feel very confident in my body now and the strength in my legs is what I needed, because obviously last year I was in and out of the seniors and trying to catch up for the whole year."
After a carefully managed pre-season campaign, McGlynn returned to the senior side in last week's 25-point win over Greater Western Sydney at the SCG after playing two solid games in the NEAFL, and admits he struggled with the pace of the game early.
McGlynn finished the night with 17 possessions and a goal and says he's looking forward to making more progress when the Swans head to Adelaide to take on the Crows on Saturday night.
The Swans enjoy a good recent record over the Crows after winning their last four, which includes last year's 52-point victory at the SCG, and prior to that, three straight wins in South Australia.
"They're a very attacking team and their midfield is very strong, I know they lost (Patrick) Dangerfield but they've still got a great midfield that have stepped up in his absence," McGlynn said.
"We need to be aware of them and obviously their forward line speaks for itself, so all of our lines – forwards, mids and backs – need to be on our game this weekend.
"We enjoy going to Adelaide, it's a great atmosphere, and a great oval and the boys enjoy travelling together and getting away."
