IF midfielder Jarred Moore made a birthday wish this week, one could hardly blame him for closing his eyes and hoping for a little more luck in 2007.

Moore turned 21 on Tuesday and celebrated by having a round of golf with fellow Swans Ryan O'Keefe, Jarrad McVeigh and Luke Vogels before later enjoying dinner with some teammates.

But his golf swing and birthday will be the furthest thing from his mind when he takes the field against Collingwood in Narrandera this Friday.

Instead, he will just enjoy being out on the football field – a rare sight last season.

After a promising 2005, two serious thumb injuries meant Moore played just two senior matches last year and half a dozen games for the Swans reserves.

That made quite a contrast from his debut season, in which he played five senior matches and was an emergency on 11 occasions, including the Swans’ grand final win.

While Moore’s second-year blues could be put down to injury, he is eager to make amends for a horror 2006 and make this season one to remember.

“Last year was pretty frustrating,” he said. “With the injuries I had it wasn't a great year.

“I was out for two or three weeks the first time and then the second time I did it, it cost me 12 or 13 weeks. I broke it in a few places, so I smashed it up pretty good.”

The break occurred in Moore’s second senior game of the season, against Adelaide in round 14.

And while the season-ending blow was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, it wasn’t as cruel as some injuries.

“I’ve had a big pre-season,” Moore said.

“My pre-season pretty much started after that injury. At least it didn’t stop me from being able to run.

“My aim for this pre-season was just to get really fit, and I’m pretty happy with how I’m going.”

A rolled ankle in his side’s first trial game of the year against Collingwood at North Sydney last month proved only a minor hiccup.

Moore stepped out again for the Swans against Richmond in Canberra at the weekend and is looking forward to further pressing his claims for a regular senior berth when he takes on the Pies on Friday.

“A bit of a goal for the year is just to try and become more of a senior player,” he said.

“I’d like to help them out in the midfield and rotate through there, and maybe play in the forward line a bit.”