For midfielder Jude Bolton, his 14th season with the Sydney Swans is one he’ll never forget.

The season was filled with memorable moments for Bolton, with the 32-year-old collecting a career- high 41 disposals in round eight against Melbourne, notching up his 300th game in the Preliminary Final and collecting his second premiership medallion.

While Bolton’s season was flush with highlights, the club veteran also suffered a knee injury which almost saw him miss out on this year’s finals campaign.

Speaking to sydneyswans.com.au, Bolton expressed just how determined he was to overcome his injury and return for the Swans 2012 premiership tilt.

How did you sum up your season in 2012?

I guess I was reasonably consistent across the year. I felt like I played a slightly different role and played a bit more up forward and tried to fill different gaps at different times and just tried to contribute as much as I could week-in, week-out.

What was it like reaching your 300 game milestone this year?

Just the fact it was in the Prelim Final, it’s been probably more of a mark that all my friends and family have been waiting for. They actually flew up for the Hawthorn game because that’s when they thought it was going to be, but in the end I did my knee a little bit and I was lucky enough that (my 300th) was in the Prelim and we got the win and got carried off knowing we were in a Grand Final.

How tough was it sustaining that injury so close to your 300th and so close to the finals?

I think it was more knowing it was close to the finals. I put a little bit of heat on myself to try and get back as quick as I could just to be part of it. That’s why you feel sorry for guys like Benny McGlynn because you can see the heartache in his eyes over in Adelaide because it means so much to all of us. People talk a lot about all the money guys are on and different things, but all you want to do is be playing footy week-in, week-out and playing with your mates as well.

I was lucky enough that I dodged a bullet in terms of the ACL and there is obviously a little bit of structural damage in there, but it was good enough to be able to change direction and still contribute.

As one of the Swans more experienced team members, how important is it for you to continue to improve as a player?

We’re not going to rest on our hands here, we don’t want to stand still and we want to move forward. Certainly that continual improvement is something we have strived for over the last number of years and that’s what we’ll be doing through this off-season as well.

You became a dual premiership player this year, what does that mean to you?

It was pretty special. We were pretty close back in ’06 to getting another one and dropped agonisingly short. This is just so special to be able to share it with a new bunch of guys who are really committed and have worked their butts off to get there.

It’s good to be able to fly under the radar all year and then probably still be dismissed even through the finals series, but we still came out as premiers.

What makes this team so special?

You hear about even contributions, and that’s what we’re about. I think at different times guys would play little cameos and do different things, but you need to be able to contribute week-in, week-out and we feel that we’ve had a lot of improvement from our younger guys. There are some young leaders stepping into this side that are going to be the nucleus of this club for years to come and that’s exciting times for the club and we’re rapt about how healthy the club is.

What were your most memorable moments in the Grand Final?

It would certainly be Dan Hannebery running back with the flight. He takes an amazing number of marks for a midfielder, but the one he took where he got cleaned up by (David) Hale was phenomenal.

Also, just the reward for Nick Malceski kicking the last goal and also the first goal. To see what he’s been through knowing that he’s had three knee reconstructions and the work that he’s had to put in and the confidence and the resilience he’s needed to withstand that has been phenomenal. It’s just great to see him become a premiership player.

Where were you when the siren went, and what did you do?

I didn’t realise whether I finished on the ground or not, I had a little bit of a head knock in the back end of the game but I was on the bench jumping around with Mitch Morton and those guys. I just waited for my moment to get on the ground and celebrate.

You’ve got a couple of big decisions to make in this off-season, what are your plans?

I’ve spoken to my management and I’m just keen to get away and just clear my head and just enjoy the moment as well with all the guys. I will then start to make a decision and sit down with the club.

Certainly the fire still burns to win another premiership. Once you get the taste for it, it’s a pretty addictive feeling. We just have to work it out and I still want to be able to contribute week-in, week-out and I think my body is in good enough shape to do that.