SYDNEY Swans 300-gamer Jude Bolton says he couldn't have asked for a better way to break Collingwood's stranglehold over the Swans than Friday night's preliminary final thumping.

The Swans' 26-point victory at ANZ Stadium broke an 11-match winning streak by the Magpies which Bolton, who kicked two goals in his milestone match, said had been tough to handle.

"It's been hanging over us for a while," Bolton said.

"There's no better way to do it though, I guess.

"It's been frustrating, they've been a quality side over the whole time and certainly it took a big effort from our guys to get over top of them tonight.

"Now we lick our wounds and get ready for next week."

Bolton said it had been an emotional time when the siren sounded.

"You know what's on the line, we've seen over the last few years how big some of the prelims are and it's win at all costs," he said.

"Certainly we could have kicked a bit straighter but it's good to break the hoodoo and get into a Grand Final."

The Swans will play the Grand Final against the winner of Saturday's Hawthorn-Adelaide preliminary final at the MCG.

Bolton, part of the Swans' 2005 premiership side, said he would advise his younger teammates to prepare thoroughly but also take time to lap up the extras of Grand Final week.

"You do have to just switch on and switch off," he said.

"Things like the parade, you definitely just want to soak it in, it's a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing.

"But then we've got to make sure we train extremely well each time, prepare really well and just do the little things.

"That's what we need, we need contributors, we need everyone just digging in the whole time."