Even if the 29-year-old onballer could block out memories of the 2012 grand final there are painful reminders every time he steps into Sydney's club headquarters.

They come in many ways. Whether it be in the form of framed photos of the day that adorn the corridor in the club offices or the replica of football's Holy Grail that sits in a trophy cabinet inside the players' lounge.

There is no solace either in the sanctity of the dressing room. His No.21 locker bears a small cup that is inscribed onto the locker of every premiership winner. That cup, however, belongs to the last man who wore his number, Leo Barry, the hero from 2005.

"There hasn't been a day where 2012 hasn't come across my mind," McGlynn said.

"There's memorabilia around the club which is good, the boys deserve to be recognised. I've had to battle with that but this game gives you plenty and the joys are great. 2012 was disappointing, it's been my driving force over the last couple of years, it's great to get the opportunity to play in a grand final."

This year is McGlynn's turn to write his own history. Unlike two years ago when he nursed a frayed hamstring, he will not be spending this week in an ultimately futile attempt to prove his fitness.

He only missed by a matter of days. Ruled out on the Tuesday, McGlynn was by Friday able to run at top speed and would have been available the following week had there been a draw.

There will not be anyone at Sydney who will deny McGlynn his moment. As difficult as it would have been for him personally, McGlynn celebrated as hard as any Swan in 2012, putting aside his tremendous disappointment.

Still decked in his suit after a night of celebrations, he even accompanied the team to their Melbourne base at Lakeside Oval on Sunday morning as the premiership 22 were presented to their fans. All this while knowing his opportunity to play in a grand final, let alone a flag, may have passed him by. His selflessness did not go unnoticed among the Swans hierarchy.

"In 2008 I was part of the group at Hawthorn, I was part of the group but I wasn't anywhere near playing," McGlynn said. "2012, falling short, and you see a lot of players retire and one thing if they haven't played in a premiership or played finals it's one of their regrets."

"You do think is 'this my last chance' but credit to John Longmire and the coaching staff, they've got a good group of players and we've all got a common goal. Other than the first four rounds, we've had a good solid season and there's a lot of belief. I'm just rapt to be a part of it."

After arriving home in the early hours of Saturday after their preliminary-final victory, McGlynn reflected with his parents and fiancee at the prospect of playing in his first grand final. They will be joined next weekend in Melbourne by his brothers, who, in a bitter-sweet postscript, all tasted premiership success at local level in 2012.

"To realise you train and work hard all year to get to a grand final ... it took a while to sink in," McGlynn said.

"It was a pretty stressful week [in 2012]. At this stage I was preparing to get my body right to play, so I didn't really get to enjoy the Collingwood win.

"I was preparing to try and get up to see if I could have a crack at training on Tuesday or Thursday and fell short on the Tuesday, I didn't get through that session. Completely different mindset now. I pulled up well from the game and waking up today it's a great feeling."