Sydney Swans co-captain Adam Goodes has highlighted the importance of winning the contested possession count this weekend as a way of nullifying Essendon’s outside, running midfielders.

The Swans were heavily beaten in that statistic last week,with Melbourne racking up 158 contested possessions to the Swans 123.

Goodes identified it as one facet of the game the team will be working on ahead of Sunday’s first home game of the season, at ANZ Stadium.

“That’s one area that we’ve spoken about, and one area that if we don’t get right this weekend against the Bombers, they’ll have a very happy time up here at ANZ Stadium,” Goodes said.

“It’s a clear indicator from opposition teams that if you win the contested count, you go a long way to winning the game of football.

“So to be about minus 34 - which I think was the worst (of any teams) for the weekend - was pretty disappointing, and to think that we were close to winning the game with such a differential like that was quite amazing to be honest.”

Goodes is confident the Swans have the personnel, mindset and versatility to get back on the positive side of the contested possession ledger this weekend.

“We’ve got a lot of players who can play outside and inside,” Goodes said.

“Our midfield runs pretty deep, so we really just have to watch their run on the outside, but if we’re winning the balls in the contest in tight, then we won’t have to worry too much about their guys on the outside.

“We know we can do it (win contested possessions). We’ve proven that we can do it in the pre-season, and we’ve proven that we can do it in the second half of last year.” 

Goodes said he was impressed by what he saw from Essendon in their 55-point victory over the Western Bulldogs, and he expects them to come into the contest brimming with confidence.

“They’re a dangerous team, Essendon,” he said.

“They’re in good form, their confidence is high, so they’re going to be looking forward to the challenge up here against us, and we’ll be doing the same.”

The dual Brownlow Medallist compared the Bombers’ form and methodology to that of last year’s premiers Collingwood, and believes if the Swans can match their intensity for four quarters they can secure the first victory of the season.

This weekend marks the tenth time the two teams have played for the Marn Grook Trophy, with Byron Sumner’s debut last weekend seeing the Swans represented by three indigenous players for the first time in ‘a long time’ according to Goodes.

“I think last weekend with myself, Byron and Lewis in the team, it was the first time that we’ve had three indigenous players play in the same team since the Robbie Ahmat and Micky O days - which was a long time ago,” he said.