Sydney veteran Kieren Jack says he's stronger and building at the right time of the AFL season after an early form slump prompted speculation his distinguished career was close to ending.
The 30-year-old former co-captain struggled through the first five rounds before the club revealed he had been affected by a hip niggle and rested him from their next five games.
Jack said criticism of his early-season form had been distracting but he had developed enough mental resilience over his career to get through that.
But he worries for younger players, whom he said were finding it hard to escape the increasing level of scrutiny, especially from social media platforms.
Jack averaged only 13 disposals across three games before he was rested.
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After modest returns in his first three matches back, Jack has averaged 21 touches over his past six games, right up with his career mark
Shuttling between the forward line and midfield over the past month, Jack has injected his renowned energy into a surging Swans outfit.
"I certainly feel physically I'm in a lot better position now and a lot stronger and I'm playing a little bit more midfield now, which has enabled me to do the things that I know I can do," Jack said on Tuesday.
Jack's return to form and fitness, along with other key stalwarts Jarrad McVeigh and Dane Rampe, have helped Sydney win 11 of their past 13 games to rocket into sixth spot after a 0-6 start.
"It's so close, this competition is so even, but we certainly feel like we're right amongst it." Jack said.
It's a far cry from earlier in the year when some critics wrote off the Swans and Jack as an individual, suggesting the 2010 best and fairest winner, 2012 premiership player and 2013 All-Australian representative, had reached the end.of the road.
Former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd was particularly damning, saying Jack had "fallen off the cliff".
"It (the negative comments) is a distraction, it's sometimes hard to not see it and not read it, you try not to," Jack said.
