Livewire Sydney Swans forward Tom Papley says he's fitter than in his breakthrough year of 2016 despite undergoing two bouts of off-season knee surgery.

Papley was Sydney's second-highest goalkicker in 2016 behind Lance Franklin, but didn't break into the senior team this year until round four.

"I feel a lot fitter this year than last year even though I've had that smaller pre-season," Papley said.

Papley developed compartment syndrome (where muscles expand after a heavy load of training) when he started to ramp up his off-season program late last year.

He required surgery to release the membrane around the muscle compartments in both legs.

More to come.