MICHAEL O'Loughlin says as much as he's trying to play down the hype surrounding his 300th game, it won't be easy.
O'Loughlin will become the first Sydney Swans player to reach the milestone when he runs onto the MCG against Richmond on Sunday.
Speaking from the SCG, the 32-year-old said the well wishes he had received so far had been amazing but that he had remained focused on what was yet another match.
"I've been around long enough to know you've still got to prepare the way you've always done to get up for the weekend," he said on Wednesday.
"And nothing will change that side of things. And Richmond are coming off a good win so they've got a bit to play for as well.
"But I'll try to keep a bit of a lid on it [because] it's more about organising people coming to the game with family and friends."
O'Loughlin, whose children will run out with him on Sunday, added it had difficult for him to contain his family's excitement.
"I think Mum wanted to toss the coin but I pulled the pin on that," he said with a smile.
O'Loughlin joined the Swans from SANFL club Central District in 1994, made his AFL debut the next season and was a part of the club's losing grand final side in 1996.
He said football in Sydney had changed massively since his arrival at the Swans all those years ago and a lot of it had to do with the build-up to the 2005 premiership triumph.
"When I first got here I didn't see any footy fields. I saw a lot of rugby fields. Now that's changed a bit. We've got a second side coming in, which will be interesting," he said.
"And just the way we've been able to have that success. Obviously bringing the flag back here and people in the streets pulling you up and talking about the Swannies has just been huge. It's definitely one thing I've noticed."
He said changes could be seen in himself, too.
"I came here as a pretty shy person. Now I'm sort of pretty confident of knowing what I want to do and where I'm heading in terms of what's going on in the outside world and helping indigenous people," he said. "That plays a big role with me.
"Back in those early stages though I didn't know if I'd be here for a year or two."
O'Loughlin admitted this season had been difficult for him; missing the first five rounds and prevented from training at full power because of an ankle injury.
He said he would settle for kicking just one goal on the weekend because his body was starting to feel the pinch.
"Mate, it feels like I've played 400," he said. "But I still walk around with a smile on my face."
O'Loughlin will retire at the end of this year as the club's second greatest goalkicker behind Bob Pratt (681).
