Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes has drawn comparisons with the Sydney side that made an unlikely post-season charge in 2003, as the Swans prepare for one last run at premiership glory under popular coach Paul Roos.
Tipped by most experts to either scrape into the eight or just miss the finals for the second straight season at the beginning of the year, the red-hot Swans now find themselves with a golden opportunity to progress deep into the post-season.
The Bloods, who defeated Hawthorn, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane in the month of August to steal fifth spot on the ladder, will host Carlton in an elimination final on Sunday.
A win would set up a likely semi-final clash with the struggling Western Bulldogs - provided Rodney Eade's men lose to Collingwood as expected this Saturday night - for a spot in a preliminary final.
"It's probably more like 03 when we were still a developing side and we played three finals that year," Goodes explained when asked if the team's grand-final experience in 05 and 06 still has any relevance.
"I think for us we just need to go out there and have the confidence like we do have from the season that we've been part of."
"And I think in '03 that's what we did. We had that confidence in each other and trust and belief and that's a pretty important thing in finals footy."
"It's just really great to be back playing finals footy again and to be able to go in with some form."
"It is a new season now that begins and we're just very grateful that we've got that home ground advantage."
And Goodes admits the team's confidence levels have soared to new heights as a result of their dramatic form reversal.
"I think the last month definitely shows how much confidence the group's got in each other," he said.
"Just the discipline that blokes coming into the team have been able to adapt to the game plan and change their roles from week to week."
"And I think that's what you need to be able to do when you're nursing a few injuries and key players are out of the team."
"All the players that have come in have just played their role and that's been the real hallmark of the last month for us getting the results that we've got against some really good teams."
Asked to account for the team's resurgence, Goodes concedes their 12-goal Round 17 hammering at the hands of Melbourne was a defining moment.
"I think losing the way we lost against Melbourne was really unacceptable and we knew that and as a leadership group, the majority of us played very poorly that day and we took full responsibility for that," he said.
"And it was up to us to really drive the performance against Geelong the week after and I thought we really stepped up that game."
"Obviously we didn't get the result but I felt like we were moving forward and I think that was due to the leaders and everyone buying in after the leaders and that's what we really need, especially in the finals."