Kurt Tippett is shaping as a late-season weapon for the Sydney Swans.

At his best when he gets some continuity, the 30-year-old is coming to hand nicely as finals approach.

When Tippett was in the ruck on Friday night, he reduced the influence of Adelaide's Sam Jacobs, proving a tougher contest for the in-form Crow than Sydney workhorse Callum Sinclair.

Tippett also pushed forward to kick a goal, his dangerous presence inside 50 making Sam Reid and Lance Franklin even tougher for opposition defenders to handle.

Reid has kicked six goals and taken 10 marks inside 50 since Tippett returned in round 20 and was critical in the Swans' comeback win over Adelaide.

Reid's absence from last year's Grand Final was felt, with the Swans toying with the idea of playing him in the decider despite him missing the entire season with injury.

Tippett's flexibility makes it tougher for Sydney to decide whether Sam Naismith – who is returning from injury – or Sinclair should share the ruck duties, as the Swans have a strong forward line with Reid inside 50. 

Kurt Tippett has given the Swans more options with their tall stocks. Picture: AFL Photos

That might depend on the match-ups, with the Swans potentially facing Melbourne and its ruckman Max Gawn in the first week of finals.

The Demons have a No.1 ruckman rated much higher than their back-up and are potentially vulnerable to an in-game injury or being worked over by a rucking duo in the finals.

If an untimely injury to a solo ruckman does cost a team a premiership, expect trade week to be change dramatically as clubs look to stockpile ruckmen.   

Tippett has his doubters, with his performance in last year's Grand Final (10 disposal, 17 hit-outs, one behind) hurting his reputation.

But he went into last year's decider beaten up after copping a broken jaw in the qualifying final and struggled to be at his best.

He has performed exceptionally well in finals other than Grand Finals and he will go in fresher this year than in previous seasons, having played just 660 minutes of AFL football this year. It's his first season under 1000 minutes in 10 years and way below those he will be competing against in the finals. 

The Swans know his value, particularly when he has played successive games, and are timing his run well.

Although they may be in a cut-throat final in week one, it would not be completely out of the question to have Tippett play NEAFL in the pre-finals bye to ensure he is not first up from a short spell in the first week of the finals.

From round seven onwards, the Swans have needed everything to go right to win the flag. 

So far, so good on the Tippett front.