THE TREND to send players to Germany for surgery continues, with the Sydney Swans deciding it was the best treatment option for dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes and key defender Craig Bolton.

Goodes and Bolton both struggled with hernia-related groin injuries in 2008 and club medical staff identified world-renowned surgeon Dr Ulrike Muschaweck in Munich as the man to get them back on track.

The surgery is believed to have three months less recovery and rehabilitation time than traditional methods.

Geelong premiership player Max Rooke and Richmond midfielder Mark Coughlan have had successful hamstring treatment in Germany, while the Swans laid new ground early in the year with Nick Malceski returning to the field 86 days after a knee reconstruction was performed there.

"I needed some work done, it was clear after the season," Bolton told Thursday's Herald Sun.

"The medical team had found [out] about this operation and suggested that I could be a good fit for it.

"I think it's less invasive ... so you can hopefully recover a little bit quicker.

"It is feeling really good. I'm sure I'm ahead of where I would be if I'd had the operation over here.

"The big test is how it's going to be in the future, but so far so good."

The Swans break a week before Christmas, and the 28-year-old said it was important to do as much work as possible before the down-time.

"I'm definitely running a bit harder now than what I would have if I'd done the traditional operation," he said.

"Pre-season is really an important time, and at my age I certainly want to make sure I get a good one under my belt.

"I'm glad I took care of it now because it's something that probably would have come back or got worse."