Ted Richards says there are similarities between Sydney's charge to to the AFL grand final and his first year at the club, but he would obviously like a different ending on Saturday.
Veteran defender Richards, who is is set to line up in his third grand final in nine seasons with the Swans, joined Sydney from Essendon a short time after they won the 2005 premiership.
Initially, it looked like Sydney were having a premiership hangover.
They commenced their defence with a 1-3 record,, the same way they started the current campaign.
The Swans then won 15 of their next 20 matches to advance to the grand final, where they lost by one-point to West Coast in an exact reversal of the previous year's result.
This time, Sydney won 18 of their last 20 games to secure the minor premiership and their second grand final appearance in the past three years and fourth in the last ten.
"There's probably quite a few similarities between 2006 and this year," Richards told AAP.
"We started both seasons quite poorly, but were able to claw our way back and get (to the grand final).
"This year initially we were just a bit off with our attitude and our intensity, but that's all it was.
"But we addressed that and moved on. For a while we were playing catch up football.
"We were 1-3 and just searching for consistent football and trying to get the wins.
"Then got an opportunity to finish in the top four and so far we've made the most of it."
Richards has enjoyed another solid season as an integral part of the Swans back six, with Sydney conceding fewer points than any other club.
At 31, the 230-game stalwart retains his enthusiasm for the game.
He has no qualms about signing single-year contracts at the current stage of his career and fully intends to back up for a 14th AFL campaign next year.
"Going into a grand final I'm very much enjoying my footy," Richards said.
"For sure I will be playing next year."
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