Sydney Swans midfielder James Rowbottom says the playing group have plenty of self-belief heading into the new season and there is plenty to be excited about as the 2022 campaign draws near.

While our blockbuster Round One fixture against GWS is still two months away, preparations are ramping up fast with pre-season fixtures just around the corner.

While not looking to dwell on the past, Rowbottom says the squad are brimming with confidence and building on their strengths from their efforts last season.

"We're just building on some strengths on last year and taking our lessons from our loss in the final last year," Rowbottom said.

"We're really focusing on some little tweaks that we can make to our game plan as a whole which we think we will get a lot of benefit out of.

"As a whole, we just want to keep building on the steps that we made last year which were really beneficial."

As the club looks forward to a new season that has plenty of excitement and promise, Rowbottom reflects on a season that ended with sheer disappointment yet plenty of hope for the future. 

As many players suggest their desire and hunger to succeed is greater than ever, Rowbottom says that small taste of finals football is what is driving the high standards throughout a tough pre-season schedule.

"I think because we're such a youthful group, that taste of finals last year wasn't enough for us," Rowbottom said.

"We thought we could go a bit deeper than what we did and we have belief.

"I think that's where the hunger word gets thrown around because we thought we were better than where we actually finished."

While Rowbottom battled with niggling injuries at various stages throughout the 2021 season, he finished with 17 appearances in the Red and White and averaged 15 disposals and six tackles per game.

While staying injury free is a primary focus for the 21-year-old, building on his versatility and craft as a bullish inside midfielder is also a priority.

"Obviously I want to stay injury free - when I was playing and training fully that's was when I was playing my best footy," he said.

"I'm just getting come continuity together, so that's a start. I just want to build on where I left off with my inside game, and keep rotating roles onto the wing and forward.

"I just want to continue to add more strings to my bow."