He said the Tigers had gained confidence from their victories over Carlton and St Kilda after overcoming doubts that had crept into their psyche in recent seasons.
"This is my ninth year at the club and I think we've always had our doubts if we're coming into the last quarter at three-quarter time, thinking we're a chance to get overrun.
"I think we've always got the belief we've got this game; we just need to seal it, finish it.
"I'd like to see hopefully over the next few weeks we do start putting sides away rather than it coming down to the end.
"If we start playing to the capability we have, we will."
Further aiding the Tigers is the knowledge they've won their first two games without playing their best football.
McGuane said the wins were a good "building block" but insisted there was better to come given neither of them was a convincing victory.
"We probably haven't hit our straps yet. We're probably playing six-and-a-half out of 10 football," he said.
"If we can hit our straps throughout the next six or seven weeks it will set us up really well for hopefully the end of the year."
Nathan Foley is inching closer to an AFL return, with the midfielder set to appear in the VFL in the next few weeks.
The 27-year-old trained with the team on Tuesday at Punt Road after increasing his workload over the last week.
McGuane said Foley, who has not played since round 10 last year because of an achilles injury, was likely to play a half in the VFL next week.
The club's medical staff is being more cautious and has pencilled in round four in the VFL as his likely return.
Either way, the rugged midfielder appears to be close to the end of a long and frustrating rehabilitation from a nasty injury.
"It's exciting for us, especially when we're talking about clearances and stuff like that," McGuane said.
"He was one of our stars before he had the achilles problem and I'm sure he'll come back and be a very good player for us.
"He's a very humble guy but a really great guy and the way he carries himself around the club … he's had so many horrible injuries.
"Hopefully this is the end of it for him and he can really come back and enjoy the rest of his career."
Defender David Astbury has also been scheduled to return through the VFL next week after overcoming a pre-season foot complaint.
Daniel Jackson, Matt White and Brett O'Hanlon ran laps at training on Tuesday while McGuane and Troy Chaplin stayed away from the main group and worked on the sidelines.
Chaplin was sporting strapping on his left knee.
Luke McGuane is a forward in NAB AFL Fantasy. He averaged 59.78 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.
Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenPhelan.
