COLLINGWOOD star Dane Swan will consider playing on beyond 2016 provided his good form continues and he remains injury-free.
On the eve of his 250th match, the premiership midfielder said he was enjoying the game as much as ever and thought the Magpies were capable of winning a premiership before his career ended.
Contracted until the end of 2016, the 31-year-old said time would tell whether he played on beyond his current deal.
"If I'm still going OK, the club still wants me and there is a spot for me somewhere, maybe (I will play) another year, but there is still bit of footy to go before I start worrying about 2017," Swan said.
The self-deprecating Brownlow medallist, who was drafted in 2001, said he didn't think he was good enough when he began at the club, nor did he have the right attitude or work ethic to make it in the AFL.
But he credited former teammates Ben Johnson and Chris Tarrant with setting him on the right path at training and setting him up for a successful career.
He said he had doubts in 2014, when injuries affected his form, that he could get back to the level of performance he had shown at the peak of his career.
However, he said this year had made his decision to continue worthwhile.
"This has been as enjoyable year as I have had since 2010-2011. The group is really tight. I think he shows in the way we play we care about each other and I think Bucks [coach Nathan Buckley] has got the group going in the right direction," Swan said.
Swan said social media was having some impact on the enjoyment levels of players but the game and being inside a club environment would always be enjoyable for him.
A key source of fun inside the changerooms, Swan has also been one of the best midfielders of his era.
He has won three best and fairests and been placed on three other occasions and been named All Australian five times.
In his usual style, he said luck played a huge role in his success.
He gave an insight into his competitiveness when he admitted his form struggles last season weighed him down but he said his ability to switch off had held him in good stead.
However his main motivation now was team success.
"If I think there is a premiership in sight, I'll certainly keep going. I certainly think there is, so hopefully I can get one before I go," Swan said.
Engaging, quirky and one of the League's best midfielders - Dane Swan. Picture: AFL Media
Swan also said he was likely to spend more time inside the forward 50 during the twilight of his career.
"Hopefully some of these guys go past me and kick me out of the midfield, which would be good for the club. If that means I play a bit more forward and pinch-hit in the midfield in the next couple of years, then I am more than happy to do it if that means success at the footy club," Swan said.
Always capable of keeping footy in perspective, Swan’s deadpan responses at Tuesday’s media conference highlighted his engaging personality.
On the secret of his longevity:
"I'm like a cockroach. They just can't kill me."
On what difference he has noticed in the past few years at Collingwood:
"Bucks is the coach, Mick (Malthouse) is not. That's one pretty big difference. My friends have gone. There is another big difference. Footy is just evolving."
On staying in footy after he retires:
"I'll doubt I'll be an assistant coach or anything like that. They have to watch the game three times from three different angles. I struggle to watch the highlights on the news."
On the main lesson he learnt as a junior footballer at Westmeadows:
"Don't get caught. I didn't stick to that too well."
On whether he could return to his best after a disappointing 2014:
"I always thought if my body was OK I was still mentally sharp enough to run around and get a kick. Thankfully my body is holding up and my mind is still reasonably sharp. I can't kick it but I can get it."
