THE SYDNEY Swans will look to turn the pressure back on against high-scoring Melbourne, after their urgency fell to the wayside against Greater Western Sydney.
The third-placed Swans will have last weekend's 42-point loss to the Giants on their minds when they host the Demons at the SCG this Sunday.
"We lacked pressure, we lacked a bit of run and our ball use wasn't great. If we can get back to that this week that'll hold us in good stead," said defender Heath Grundy, who is set to play his 200th match.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos gave Grundy his start in the AFL, so it's fitting he'll be there for his former player's 200th.
Grundy has made it to his significant milestone the hard way, after fighting his way onto the Swans' senior list via the 2005 rookie draft, when Roos plucked the South Australian from the footy wilderness.
The 30-year-old this week becomes the fifth player from that draft to reach the double century, after Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide/Fremantle), Heritier Lumumba (Collingwood/Melbourne), Dale Morris (Western Bulldogs) and Josh Gibson (North Melbourne/Hawthorn).
Ahead of the Swans' clash with the Demons on Sunday, Grundy couldn't help but reflect on the chance he was given by his former mentor.
"I missed out on two drafts and Roosy (Paul Roos) gave me the opportunity to come to an AFL club," he said.
"I'm grateful for that, definitely.
"He then gave me an opportunity to play and stuck with me so if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here."
Grundy had to wait until round 16, 2006 to make his debut, and struggled to manage just 24 appearances – mainly as a forward – in the next three seasons.
He had to be patient, but with some experienced teammates finishing their careers, Grundy got his chance down back in 2009 and has been a fixture in the Swans defence since.
The no-nonsense backman helped the Swans win the 2012 premiership over Hawthorn, has played 20-plus games in each of the past seven seasons, and said playing 200 games was an achievement he never thought possible.
"It's exciting, it's a proud moment for myself and I'm looking forward to it," he said.
"When we had a few retirements with Craig Bolton and Leo Barry and guys like that, I slipped into defence.
"That fitted my mould really well and since I've got back I've felt really settled.
"That was something that helped me and I was able to play some consistent footy over the seasons, and it's held me in good stead."
Grundy has always had to battle out of his weight division against the competition's best key forwards, and that will continue against the Dees.
Young star Jesse Hogan has kicked 30 goals this season, while veteran Chris Dawes has returned to the side in the past fortnight and had 18 possessions and five marks in last week's win over Collingwood.
"They're both pretty good players," he said.
"Jesse Hogan has been playing really well, he's got good hands and is good in the air, and 'Dawesy' (Chris Dawes) is a lead-up type, a really strong player.
"Myself, 'Ramps' (Dane Rampe) and 'Laids' (Jeremy Laidler) are going to have our work cut out.
"We rely on the midfield pressure and the forward line pressure to set us up well in defence, and they rely on us to defend well.
"It's an 18-man team in attack and defence and if we can do that, then we're a pretty good side."
