Sydney co-captain Adam Goodes says he has been able to have a significant impact on his AFL teammates despite an extended stint on the sidelines.
Superstar Adam Goodes says Sydney have returned to their ruthless best that had the Swans nominated by some pundits as AFL premiership contenders in the early part of the AFL season.
Sydney were one of the form sides of the competition in winning their first five games of the year before losing three of their next four including an abject 28-point loss to St Kilda in round nine.
But co-captain Goodes said on Wednesday the Swans' last start 92-point hammering of the Western Bulldogs, which included a 9.0 to 1.1 first quarter, signalled a return to the club's best.
"That first quarter was a result of the emphasis that we put on the players that what we turned up against St Kilda was unacceptable and very un-Swans-like," Goodes said on Wednesday.
"Credit to the players, what they showed in that first quarter on Sunday was that they wanted to make amends.
"We are really proud of that effort."
Goodes, who hasn't played since suffering a quadriceps injury in round six against Adelaide, said the Swans had another chance to prove their premiership credentials against Essendon in round 11 this weekend.
"What I have said to the playing group is that we can't be a team that is like a yo-yo, that puts a performance like that on our home deck and then travels and puts in a disappointing effort," Goodes said.
"Everything is gearing up this week to tackle Essendon in the same way we did in the first quarter against the Bulldogs. They are coming off a disappointing loss and it is going to be a super clash at Etihad Stadium this Saturday night."
Speaking at the launch of Men's Health Week, of which he is an ambassador, Goodes said he was certain to return after the bye for the Swans' round 13 match against premiers Geelong at the SCG.
"The way I'm running at the moment I feel fitter than I was before I got injured," he said.
"I feel like there is nothing wrong with me. So from that point of view that's the positive of having six weeks off.
"It is frustrating but I have been able to see the game from a different perspective and I have been giving feedback to the players about the game plan and structures at halftime and fulltime. So I have still had an influence on the group in that sort of way."
