SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos says despite bowing out of the 2008 finals race, his side has made significant inroads for the future.

After watching the Bulldogs outrun the Swans in a lop-sided second half, Roos was keen to talk positives post-game.

"I think we’ve improved on last year which is something we tried to do in then off-season and address some of things that we knew we weren’t quiet as good at last year," he said.

"I think we have improved as a team."

In 2007 the Swans were bundled out by Collingwood in an elimination final and, at that point, many considered the ageing list on its last legs.

However, the recruitment of former Crow Martin Mattner and the emergence of youngsters Jarred Moore, Craig Bird, Patrick Veszpremi and Kieren Jack, helped turn back the clock for the 2005 premiers.

Roos hinted the Swans' tendency to trade and draft would again be on the cards this off-season, with a priority would be to bolster the midfield.

"Midfield talent, with the way the game is played now, is probably a little bit more important than your forward talent," he said.

"That’s probably an area we still need to look at."

While highlighting the side’s improvement, Roos didn't rule out season 2009 as a rebuilding year.

"I’m not sure…possibly," he said when asked if that's what next season could hold.

"It’s something we need to assess in the off-season because it's hard to do it straight after the game.

"I think what you’ve got to be careful of is going down (the ladder) just for the sake of going down.

"As a club we have to make sure we make smart decisions and I think we’ve done that reasonably well [in the past].

"It may be a rebuilding year but we’ll see what happens in the next month."

Roos said the side’s sixth placing was an accurate reflection of its standing within the competition, but rued missed chances against a Bulldogs outfit he saw as vulnerable early on.

"We had our chances," he said.

"Coming off last week with a bit of momentum, against a team you knew was going to bounce back, you’ve got to take your chances and we probably didn’t.

"Their belief started to grow and grow and they’re a very good team. You don’t finish third on the ladder if you can’t play."

He rated the Dogs an outside chance of toppling minor premier Geelong in next week's preliminary final.

"If the Bulldogs play their best football and Geelong is a little bit off, I think the Bulldogs can win," he said.

"I’m not saying Geelong is invincible because I think they can be beaten. I wouldn’t say it’s a fait accompli that Geelong is going to get into the grand final."