Bolton looking to the future
Just weeks away from playing his 300th game, Jude Bolton and the Swans have began to look ahead to 2013
JUDE Bolton is in outstanding form for the ladder-leading Sydney Swans and has just commenced preliminary discussions over a contract extension - just don't mention his upcoming milestone.
This week, Bolton will play game No.295 against St Kilda at the SCG.
If he can maintain his fitness, in round 22 against Hawthorn, Bolton will become just the third player in the 139-year history of the South Melbourne/Sydney Swans to reach the 300-game mark.
It is a figure recorded only by two of his modern day contemporaries, Adam Goodes (309 games) and Michael O'Loughlin (303).
For a player who has missed just 16 games since his debut in round 12, 1999 - which includes a streak of 145 consecutive matches between round 14, 2005 and round 16, 2011 - chances are the magic milestone will come against the Hawks at the SCG.
But it's still too early to talk about it, according to the man himself.
"Yeah it's still far too early," Bolton said.
"It's exciting, family and friends keep ringing up about it and saying this and that, but it's still far too far away.
"I've got mates saying 'we'll try to come up for the game' and I'm saying 'I don't know when it's going to be'.
"Hopefully it happens this season and we'll see how we go."
It seems almost unthinkable now that Bolton was being offered up for trade at the end of the 2007 season.
At the age of 32, Bolton is averaging 21.1 disposals - the second best tally of his 14-year career - more than five tackles and four clearances per game.
He has been on rolling one-year contracts in recent years and has just started initial discussions about extending his career into 2013.
On current form, it would appear a fait accompli.
"I've been on one-year deals for a while and I don't mind that," he said.
"It keeps you on edge and you don't look too far forward.
"I had a bit of an open chat with the club the other day and it's just about playing it by ear.
"There's a lot of pressure from the guys in the reserves as well and I have to keep playing good footy.
"That's the same for all positions across the ground and we're really excited with the strength of our list."
The depth of the Swans' midfield has pushed Bolton into the forward line at times and it has resulted in 15 goals to date, four shy of the personal-best 19 he kicked last season.
The 2005 premiership player is relishing the talent around him at the club.
"My body's feeling good and I'm just trying to play my role," he said.
"I’m really happy with the stocks we've got in the midfield, so it allows me to go forward at times.
"The form of guys like Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack, Ryan O'Keefe, Dan Hannebery, it allows us to throw different options at teams at different times.
"I'm enjoying the role and we'll try to keep our winning run going."
Bolton has been asked a number of times recently to compare the feeling among the current group with that experienced by the flag-winning side of 2005.
It's a near-impossible task, but victories such as last week's 52-point win West Coast in Perth are doing wonders for the current group's confidence.
"Certainly, over the last two seasons some of the young guys have been exposed to big, high-intensity games," Bolton said.
"That's what it's about, putting yourself under pressure and standing up.
"At times we have folded a bit and you try to learn from it and build for next time and we're really gaining confidence in each other and we have to keep that going."
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD