HAVING navigated through a difficult opening to the season, milestone man Rhyce Shaw feels the Sydney Swans are well placed to start a surge up the ladder. 

Tipped to contend for a flag this season, the Swans have fought back from a poor start to the year to even their ledger at 3-3 following last week's win over Melbourne at the MCG.

Next up is a trip north to take on the Brisbane Lions and Shaw – who plays his 200th career game at the Gabba – likes how the Swans are now travelling.

Hard running Swans still a work in progress

"I think at 3-3, we've put ourselves in a position to go forward very quickly," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"We're looking forward to this week against Brisbane. They're coming off a good win (over St Kilda), and every game is really important for us. 

"We're not looking too far ahead, you can't in AFL circles these days."

One of the reasons for Shaw's optimism has been the arrival of Lance Franklin.

Despite battling plenty of off-field distractions since his shift from Hawthorn, Franklin has shown glimpses of form and tops the club's goalkicking with 12 from his six games.

Shaw knows Franklin will have a major say in the Swans' fortunes this season. 

"He's had a few off-field distractions, but the kid just wants to play footy," Shaw said.

"He's an unbelievable player and I've seen a few glimpses of him in the six games I've played with him and I can't wait to see the next 18 games or whatever it is this year. 

"I think he's going to be really pivotal to the way we finish off the year.

"If he can just get a good crack at it with no distractions, it'd be great for him." 

Shaw himself is no stranger to off-field troubles and readily admits he has plenty of regrets for how he conducted himself early in his career. 

The 32-year-old moved from Collingwood to Sydney ahead of the 2009 season and says his career would've soon been over had he remained in Melbourne.

Despite his family's long history at the Magpies, the 2012 premiership-winner considers himself a Swan.

"The first three or four years I didn't take the game seriously enough and wasn't very professional and did a few things I probably regret," he said. 

"That's some of the things I try to preach to our young guys now, you're in AFL football as long as you want to be.

"If you do all the right things now you can play for 10 years.

"I was lucky enough to stay in the system somehow and play in a Grand Final and win a premiership.

"I've been very lucky in that respect and really privileged to be at the Sydney Swans."

Shaw, who plans to move into coaching when his playing days are over, jokes that it's "only taken 15 years" to reach 200 games. 

He battled through a tough 2013, when an abdominal strain kept him out for four months before he tore his ACL for the second time in round 22.

LARS knee surgery saved his career and he has steadily built his form this season, capped by a career-high 34 disposals against the Demons.

Shaw is a chance of playing on next year, but concedes he doesn't know when his AFL journey will end.

"I've got no idea. It could be next week," he said.

"I'm just loving playing footy at the moment and that stuff takes care of itself.

"Hopefully I can keep my body healthy and play some good footy.

"I never thought I'd play this long. I thought I'd have a nice career, play 100 games somewhere and that'd do me.

"To get this far has been great and I just want to make every game count from here on in."