No one could be hungrier for AFL finals footy than Sydney defender Heath Grundy after missing the Swans’ last three finals matches and paying the price for what he calls a “silly incident”.

Centre half back Grundy missed both of the Swans finals games last season due to a bout of glandular fever and a suspension kept him out of last weekend’s away win over Adelaide.

The South Australian product had to watch the match on television in Sydney after copping a one-match ban for striking Geelong forward James Podsiadly a week earlier.

“My whole career really I haven’t been involved in anything (like) that. It was just a silly incident,” Grundy said.

“It wasn’t like an intentional thing. I tried to push him away, as I said at the tribunal.

“Obviously it didn’t go my way and I was disappointed.”

With the Swans having earned this week off as they wait for next week’s preliminary final opponent to be decided, Grundy is having two football-free weeks after playing every game this season prior to his suspension.

“I think I’ll do a little bit more training than the other boys just to get a bit more movement,” Grundy said.

Grundy marvels at the ability and consistency of his Swans key defensive colleague Ted Richards.

“He (Richards) doesn’t only just beat his opponent, he gets across and helps everyone else out,” Grundy said.

“He’s probably played the best footy of his career this year.

“I can’t remember him having a bad game, which is an incredible effort, considering he plays on the best forwards every week.”

Meanwhile, emerging Sydney defender Alex Johnson revealed he has his eyes set on a key defensive post.

Johnson, 20, has played 43 of 47 games in his first two seasons and hasn’t been dropped since breaking into the side in round three of last year.

A lean 80kg when he was drafted by Sydney in late 2010, Johnson now tips the scales at 93kg and hopes to pile on three or four more in the next off-season, with the ultimate aim of bulking up sufficiently to tackle opposing key forwards.

“I’ve spoken to a few of the coaches about that and I think that’s our long-term goal, to develop into one of those key defenders,” Johnson said.

He was philosophical about the spray he received from coach John Longmire after being burnt by Geelong champion Paul Chapman in Sydney’s final round fixture.

“That type of stuff doesn’t faze me too much,” Johnson said.

“I listened to what he had to say and tried to adjust as quickly as I could.”