SYDNEY Swan Heath Grundy reckons there's no better way to learn how to play as a forward than by lining up against the best goalkickers in the business.

The former South Australian lined up in the forward line against St Kilda at the weekend but stints in the back half both last year and in the pre-season have proved invaluable as he aims to take his game to a new level in 2008.

"I picked up Buddy (Franklin) in the NAB Cup and it was great to see how he plays up close," Grundy said.

"I got to look at how he tries to lead at the ball and how hard he works to get into the best position to win the footy. Seeing how someone like him goes about was good for getting ideas about how to get away from my opponent when I'm playing forward."

The 192cm former rookie is glad that the season proper has finally started after an elongated pre-season with the Swans. And at a club where hard work is par for the course, the 21-year-old admits that he had to change his own attitude to training when he first arrived from SANFL club Norwood.

"I don't think I was the hardest of workers when I first started playing. My fitness and running let me down so I had to work pretty hard on that.

"The work ethic here is player-driven. You're sort of left out if you don't work hard. Most of the senior players set a good example so you get an idea of how hard you have to work very quickly. Otherwise, you look a bit stupid."

Grundy hasn't just been working hard at training. He heads up a group of young players at the Swans who visit local schools once a week to preach the message of a healthy lifestyle.

But according to the forward, the 'Healthy Choices' programme isn't just good for the kids.

"When I first came up here, I wouldn't have been able to talk to a class at all, I really struggled. So it's good to get your confidence up and learn something from it as well as doing something for the kids."