Sydney coach Paul Roos says his side is playing their best AFL football of the past two years.

But it still hasn't been enough to get them over the line against the best two sides in the competition.

The Swans fell just five points short against Geelong on Saturday night, two weeks after going down to the undefeated Saints by a point.

But the efforts in these two games have been enough for Roos to praise a good effort from his side.

"The last month of footy we've played has been just super. It's probably been the best footy we've played in the last two years," he told reporters.

"Unfortunately, we've won two and lost two. We had a genuine chance to win both those games."

Roos said he was not thinking of playing finals, despite it remaining a mathematical possibility, with the Swans stuck on eight wins after 20 rounds.

"It doesn't really change the way we do things anyway," he said.

"We've got some good opposition - we've got Collingwood next week and we've got Brisbane the week after.

"Our main goal is to play as well as we can and to give the young guys an opportunity, and we're certainly doing that at the moment."

Geelong coach Mark Thompson was similarly impressed with his side, after an indifferent month and a half by the Cats' lofty standards.

"To win interstate anytime is a good thing, when you travel, so we we're pleased with that, he said.

"Again we've showed a fair bit of composure and we're pleased with that.

"We're more pleased with the way we've played than we were the last couple of weeks."

Sydney half back Martin Mattner, who was swung forward in the third term and kicked two goals, said the team would learn from the close encounters.

"It shows we're sort of round the mark, but not quite there at the moment," he said.

"If these guys can finish off the season well, then it's going to be great experience going into the pre-season."

Mattner said he relished the chance for a role outside the backline.

"Things have changed a bit over the past month. I've been playing a bit more midfield," he said.

"You've got to be adaptable, to be able to play in more than one position is handy, and it makes it easier for the coach to pick you."

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