SYDNEY Swans ruckman Shane Mumford believes the premiers have turned the corner and are as well placed for a tilt at the flag as they were at the same stage of last year.

In the final four weeks of the 2013 regular season, the Swans recorded losses to Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn.

This year though there's also a long injury list, headlined by dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes (knee), which is hardly the ideal preparation for Friday night's qualifying final against the Hawks at the MCG.

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Mumford said there was a lot to like in the team's last-start 12-point loss to Hawthorn.

"We definitely turned it around on the weekend, compared to where we were a few weeks ago," Mumford told radio station 2UE. 

"We've probably got ourselves in just as good a position to push late into September as what we did last year."

Mumford enjoyed his most productive game of the season last Friday night, grabbing 41 hit-outs and dominating the ruck contests in the absence of Hawthorn's Max Bailey (general soreness).

The Swans led for the majority of that ANZ Stadium clash, but surrendered the lead early in the final quarter.

Mumford was impressed with the selflessness and grit the Swans had rediscovered after a 44-point away loss to Geelong.

"The way we played the few weeks prior to Friday night, we weren't great with covering our man and helping (each other out)," the 27-year-old said.

"Working as a team ... basically all the things we do really well when we're playing our best footy. On Friday night, we got back to doing that for three quarters.

"We know it's going to take a four-quarter effort to beat Hawthorn, but I think we've taken a big step forward in terms of getting things back on track." 

Mumford is taking part in STEPtember this month and has already raised almost $1000 for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.