AFTER spending the best part of six months in the rehab group with teammate Craig Bolton, Mark Seaby has the utmost respect for the Sydney Swans co-captain.

But all the same, the big ruckman would prefer to see a little less of Bolton in 2011 - unless it's out on the field.

Seaby and Bolton spent most of the 2010 season together, nursing their respective broken ankle and strained achilles back to some semblance of health.

"There was a lot of competition in the off-leg room and the swimming pool," Seaby said with a laugh.

"It was very unfortunate for both of us that we had the years we did, but I know it definitely made my rehab a lot easier, having someone there. That said, hopefully it's something we won't have to repeat."

Seaby's ankle improved to the point where he mounted a late bid to return to the field for the Swans' finals campaign.

It ultimately failed but the big ruckman said he was right on track to take his place in round one, 2011.

"I was trying to get back and I was starting to run but something wasn't quite right. I wasn't running that well and I was getting a bit of pain through my ankle," he recalled of his late-season attempt to train.

"We decided to do another x-ray and it showed that something wasn't quite right, so I had another operation to clean out a few bits of bone. It's come up really well and I'm happy with it at the moment."

Seaby began running again in mid-October and while he is still some way from joining in the main sessions, he said the pain that had plagued his earlier recovery was gone.

While 2010 was something of a lost year on the field, Seaby said it wasn't a complete write-off despite playing just five and a bit games.

"I wouldn't say it was an extremely disappointing sort of year, what with being in Sydney and being at the Swans, and enjoying the success that the team had throughout the year," he said.

"Looking back now, it does give me confidence that I can pick up that form again and start playing good footy when the season comes around. I'll just have to draw on that and hopefully start well again."

As for the team, Seaby said it was focused on improving on an encouraging 2010 that ended with a narrow semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

The Swans enjoyed some slashing wins against their mid-table opponents but were ultimately found wanting against the likes of Collingwood, Geelong and St Kilda.

"We've just got to keep improving and push the top sides," Seaby said.

"I think we showed last year that we're probably not quite there but at the same time, that's given us a goal for the pre-season. Going forward, we need to make sure we're right there with them and really contend with them."