Sour memories of their horrid start to the season are driving the Sydney Swans, who are paying little attention to the prospect of equalling their club record win streak this weekend.
A victory over Carlton at the SCG would make it 12 straight wins for the Swans, drawing them level with the mark achieved during their South Melbourne days in 1918, 1933 and 1935.
"It's great for the club, but the boys are focused on getting four points every time we run out so we're fully focused on Carlton this week," Sydney midfield/forward Ben McGlynn said.
The current streak has Sydney regraded as the premiership favourites in the bookies' eyes, a far loftier position than they occupied after a dodgy 1-3 start.
Those early season games, which included a shock loss to local rivals GWS, might be gone but they certainly haven't been forgotten.
"We don't forget the start of the season, because it's the poor start we had that has made us play the footy we are now," McGlynn said.
"We always draw back on that. We're only one bad game away from letting it all unfold."
Coming off a season-high 27 disposals against West Coast, McGlynn has emerged as one of the surging Swans' prime movers in their red-hot run.
A terrier of a player, who at 172cm is one of the AFL's smallest, McGlynn is proving an old dog can learn new tricks.
He has supplemented his traditional small forward role by playing extensive minutes in the Swans' star-studded midfield.
"I think it's probably been my most consistent season and I'm playing in the midfield a bit more now which is very enjoyable," McGlynn said.
With competitive instincts honed by childhood backyard battles with older siblings, McGlynn is a giant in the tackling stakes despite his relatively small stature.
He is joint fourth in the competition for average tackles per game, nailing opposing players seven times a match.
"It's a physical game and that's what I enjoy about it," McGlynn said.
"Having two older brothers always helps.
"Tackling is something I've always enjoyed doing and early in my career I was getting stepped a lot, so I had to learn a lot and practice a lot of tackling.
"Me and (teammate) Luke Parker have got a bit of a challenge going at the moment. He's in front of me on tackles, so I'm trying to catch him up at the weekend."
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