SYDNEY SWANS games record holder Adam Goodes is returning for his 17th AFL campaign - and it might not be his last.

"I'm certainly not thinking that way," he told AAP.

The 35-year-old dual Brownlow medallist, who was still recovering from a knee injury this time last year, is feeling fit and hasn't ruled out playing past 2015.

But his main goal this season is to atone for the Swans' bitterly disappointing 63-point grand final loss to Hawthorn.

"We played our worst brand of football for a long time... it no doubt motivated the group to want to get better," he said.

The 2014 Australian of the Year said watching a replay of the demolition together turned the team's heartbreak into pre-season determination.

"I knew we were bad, but I didn't think we were as bad as what we were, so it was good to have a little bit of closure from that game," Goodes said.

In 2015, he could become the club's first triple premiership star, but Goodes denies missing out last year was the reason he couldn't retire.

"If we had won the premiership I definitely think I would have liked to play again," he said.

"It's something that I've been able to taste twice before and I've now had defeats in two others."

But getting back on the big stage will be harder with the loss of defender Nick Malceski to Gold Coast.

While Goodes felt the move was disappointing, he said it would give several young guns a chance to move up through the ranks.

"A guy like Dane Rampe took his opportunity when Alex Johnson was out injured," he said.

"And Jeremy Laidler, who played a fair bit last year, that role has really opened for him if he wants to take it.

"That competition that they help drive, drives us older players to get the best out of ourselves and make sure that we keep improving."