SYDNEY Swans backman Tadhg Kennelly says his year spent playing Gaelic football in Ireland could ultimately extend his AFL career.

Kennelly, who lived his own personal fairytale when he won an All-Ireland title with Kerry in 2009, has taken up where he left off with the Swans in 2010 with his trademark runs from defence and precise kicking.

He predicted before the season that his time spent playing Gaelic football would make him a better player and he told sydneyswans.com.au his tip was correct.

"My body's allowed me to do things that I wasn't been able to do in the two or three years prior to me leaving," he said.

"Sometimes I think players - and we've all been that way - we've spent our money before the game's started and we haven't given ourselves an opportunity to freshen up for games.

"I'm not saying I've taken it easy in training but I've just been smarter with preparing myself.

"At this time of the year, I'm flying where generally I've been hanging to get to the end of the season. Now, I actually feel like I could play another 22 weeks.

"Hopefully the year off has given me another couple of years in my career."

Kennelly's form has been much the same as his previous years in red and white, however players alongside him have changed dramatically since he left in 2008.

Premiership teammates Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin, Leo Barry, Jared Crouch and Nic Fosdike had all departed in his absence, while several other familiar faces were traded or delisted.

"When I walked into the rooms last October, it was like 'what's going on here?'" he said.

"There were a lot of new faces but the good thing about the new players that we've brought in is that they've all performed and they've all contributed something to the season and to the team.

"Especially the last month, the style of the football we do play can hinder some players' natural tendencies to do things, but if you can put that to the side for the team's benefit, you'll win more as a team that you would as an individual.

"That can sometimes be hard to buy into as new player in a new club and a new environment, but we've got players who have really bought into that in the last six weeks and hence, we've got our results."

At 29 and with 176 games under his belt, Kennelly is now among the Swans' elder statesmen - a role he has embraced as the club prepares for its elimination final against Carlton at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

"The last month, we've been the No.1 contested team in the competition and that's the way we want to play all year round. I suppose it's just a good time to be playing that way now," he said.

"What it does is give a lot of belief to players who haven't been around the club for too long that we can play and we can beat the better teams in the competition.

"We have something that works … if you win your contested footy, we're going to win games of football.

"We've got a lot of players who haven't played a whole lot of finals football but as long as their approach is the same as if it's a home and away game, I'm sure they'll be fine."