Collingwood onballer Dane Swan would prefer to be best afield in an AFL premiership win than poll so much as one Brownlow Medal vote.

Swan and Geelong star Gary Ablett are the favourites for Monday night's count and the Magpies midfielder acknowledges the importance of the occasion.

But once the gala function is over, regardless of the result, he will turn his thoughts as quickly as possible to next Saturday's grand final.

Swan was again superb as the Magpies dismantled Geelong in Friday night's preliminary final, putting them in the grand final for the first time since 2003.

"If we hadn't won (last) night, maybe I would have put a bit more emphasis on it (the Brownlow), but we're in a 'granny'," Swan said.

"I don't care if I don't get a vote, as long as we win next week - I'd rather win the Norm Smith."

The Norm Smith Medal, awarded to the best player in the grand final, has become one of the game's highest individual honours.

The Brownlow remains the No.1 individual award, but in Swan's mind right now it is almost meaningless besides being so close to a premiership.

"To be honest, I haven't really given it a thought," he said.

"Obviously Monday, you can't really help but get sucked in a little bit to the hype.

"It will be exciting on the night, hopefully one of us on the (Collingwood) table gets a few votes because otherwise it will be a pretty boring night if none of us poll a vote.

"But after that night's gone, my focus is on the game."

Swan and Ablett, who was best afield, had a quick word as they left the field after Friday night's game.

But like the rest of the AFL, Swan has no idea whether Ablett will stay at Geelong or go to Gold Coast.

"I'm rapt for him, whatever he does," Swan said.

He and his team-mates were even happier with the job they did on the Cats, dominating the match from the outset.

"We were fresh and it's the hardest we've attacked the ball and the man all year, it was an awesome first quarter," he said.

One downside from the match was Luke Ball's hamstring soreness and Swan has his fingers crossed the former St Kilda captain will be fit in time for the grand final.

Swan said the Magpies had made a point of speaking to Ball and former Sydney ruckman Darren Jolly about their grand final experiences.

"He (Ball) has been awesome for us this year, we've really tapped into his knowledge," Swan said of his fellow midfielder.

"He's not in the leadership group, but we've certainly invited him in over the last six weeks, he's been tremendous for us.

"Jolls and Bally were the two that we asked what their thoughts were, because they've been there and they gave us some good insight into what we should do, keeping a lid on stuff."

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