It's 15 years since a shy kid named Michael O'Loughlin made his AFL debut for Sydney.

Wearing the number 38, the then 18-year-old from Central Districts in South Australia kicked three goals, helping his side to a big win over Adelaide.

Many saw his potential that day, but few could have predicted that he would become the first to play 300 games in the red and white.

When O'Loughlin runs onto the MCG to take on Richmond on Sunday, he will achieve a feat that even club greats Paul Kelly and Bob Skilton could not.

"Back in those early days I didn't know whether I'd be here for a year or two or whatever," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

Since then, he has won a club best and fairest, been named All Australian twice, and was the Swans' leading goalkicker in 2000 and 2001.

He is second behind Bob Pratt on their all time goalkicking list.

He also played in the side's 2005 premiership, which helped entrench the club - and the code - in NSW.

But the man they call Magic was humble as always, saying that Richmond will be as fired up for Ben Cousins' 250th - even though he has played just 11 of them for the Tigers.

"Benny's playing his 250th this week as well, so they've got a bit to play for," he said.

"I've been around long enough to know you've still got to prepare the way you've always done to get up for the weekend."

Swans coach Paul Roos, who played alongside O'Loughlin in his first game, called for a special effort from his players.

"It is important that the club puts on a show for Micky O as he is a club legend, Roos said.

"We want to make it a day to remember, and it is a very proud day for the club."

Following the departure of Barry Hall, O'Loughlin has had to play a bigger role in the forward line, despite the old legs not being quite what they used to be.

"It feels like I've played 400 (games) ... it's been a bit of a struggle getting up," he said.

"I come to training and all I want to do is get out there, but I can't train as much as the other boys."

He ruled out coaching as a future career path, but said he would look for a mentoring role, particularly for young Aboriginal players.

"There's a lot more players out there that could come in that just need to be nurtured a bit," he said.

"What's going on in the outside world, and what's going on with indigenous people, that plays a big role with me."

He said the club was in a strong place, despite his and Hall's departure, as well as the expected retirements of Leo Barry and Jared Crouch.

"We've been around, we've battled, we've struggled and now we've come good," said the 32-year-old O'Loughlin.

"Whether or not we make the finals next year, I don't know, but I do know that the team will always have a burning desire to get better and always having a dip."

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