Sydney ruckman Shane Mumford admits he’s still some weeks away from his best and feels it’s a similar story for the Swans.
Mumford showed flashes of his best in Sydney’s 94-point AFL win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night.
In his fourth game since being sidelined for six weeks with a back infection, Mumford moved with greater freedom and spent more time in the ruck.
The burly ruckman also exhibited his renowned physicality – recording seven tackles and snaring two contested marks.
“My back’s settled right down and it’s not worrying me,” Mumford told AAP.
“I’m finding it a lot easier to run out games – to just be able to move at the end of a game was a nice thing.
“I just felt like I was moving around the ground a lot better and able to get back to playing the way I play.
“I still reckon I’m another couple of games at least away from being able to run the way I used to, but I’m definitely getting there.”
The Swans’ potential standing as premiership contenders is a moot point in the league, despite holding second place on the ladder and a healthy percentage of 144.18.
Mumford said there was a lot of work required before his team was viewed as a top-four side.
“Obviously we’ve got to play four-quarter football to be able to make top four.
“At the moment we’re not quite doing that, we’ve still got a lot of improvement left in us.
“So if we get everything right and start playing four quarters of solid footy there’s no reason we can’t finish top four.”
The Swans’ recent form is all the more impressive considering two of their most important players – Adam Goodes and Mumford – have been beset by injury.
The Sydney derby was Goodes’ second game back after missing five matches with a quad tear.
The dual Brownlow medallist was still below his best, but kicked two goals and held more sway than against Geelong last week.
“The longer the game went, the better he went,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“He started a bit quiet and I thought the last quarter he started to get some pretty good contests and win his one-on-ones.
“I don’t know (when he’ll be back to his best), all I know is he was a lot better tonight than what he was last week.
“That’s generally what happens (after coming back from an injury), no matter who you are.”