DESPERATE to make an impression at his new club, Mitch Morton headed to Thailand in the off-season for a self-imposed boot camp before returning to join the Sydney Swans.

Having spent time at West Coast and Richmond, Morton felt lucky to be thrown a lifeline by the Swans during AFL Trade Week and wanted to reward them by getting in career-best shape.

Despite reaching his goal, Morton suffered a setback, picking up an infection in his leg that has interrupted his pre-season plans in the Harbour City.

"Over in Thailand I did a kickboxing camp for five weeks during my break just to get really fit," Morton said.

"I wanted to get up here and run at the front of the pack and really get stuck in and have a good pre-season.

"It was good at the time and then I got a little infection when I got back.

"It was pretty easily treatable, but I just got some bad advice on it and it turned into something bigger than it was and I had to have it cut out and I've got a pretty big hole in my leg at the moment.

"Aside from that I'm feeling really good and can't wait to get into it, I'm really excited."

Morton played 71 games with the Eagles and Tigers, kicking 105 goals, but was left shattered in July this year following a frank discussion with his manager Paul Connors.

Morton was bluntly told his AFL career could be over and he might have to face the possibility of moving to the WAFL or VFL if he was to continue playing football.

But the Swans have handed him a lifeline and he hopes at the age of 24, he is ready to take advantage of his last shot.

"With players like Chris Judd and Joel Selwood and Dan Hannebery coming into the system and having an impact at 18, it makes players like myself look bad," Morton said.

"Recruiters are always looking for that next guy to come in at 18 and finish top five in the best and fairest, when realistically it's not just going to happen for some guys.

"Some guys don't grow up and mature until they're 22, 23, 24, and I think I'm definitely in that category.

"You see success stories like [mature-age recruits] James Podsiadly and Nick Duigan at Geelong and Carlton respectively and they've grown up away from the spotlight.

"I'm proud of myself that I've been able to hang in there and I've put in a lot of work over the last seven years, but has it been enough? Probably not.

"But I'm lucky enough to get this opportunity."

The Swans struggled to kick goals in 2011 and coach John Longmire is hoping Morton can help, expecting him to compete with Trent Dennis-Lane for a small forward role.

"Mitch has some real ability," Longmire said.

"He kicked 41 goals a couple of years ago and it's pretty hard to do that.

"We think he can add to our goalkicking power and he's still only young.

"In the end it was a pretty late draft pick it took to get him (No.79), so we were pleased and think he can add to our group."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs