Heath Grundy was a key player in the Swans defence this season, and held down centre-half back for 24 of the team’s 25 matches.

After missing the Swans finals campaign with illness last season, Grundy experienced another September disappointment, missing the club’s Qualifying Final win over Adelaide due to suspension.

But unlike in 2011, Grundy was able to come back for the Swans final two matches, which saw the 26-year-old finish the season as a premiership defender.

Following another stellar year in defence, Heath Grundy spoke to sydneyswans.com.au about his 2012 season at the Swans.

How do you sum up your season in 2012?

It’s probably the best year I can remember actually. It was just unbelievable to finish off with a Grand Final and have a win and it was just incredible to share it with the boys, and it is something I had always dreamed off.

What areas have you improved on this season?

Probably leadership would be the one for me, just on-field leadership and helping Teddy and Marty and the older guys in the backline. Also I thought I had a fairly consistent year, which was good.

What was it like to play a few finals in a row after missing out last year?

It’s great. We played last year and we were sort of around the mark but we still had areas to improve on, and then this year to get it all together and not having too many injuries meant we had another year together and could learn how each other played, which was good.

To come away with the premiership was just incredible and unbelievable and I think the boys are pretty stoked.

Which younger players have impressed you this year?

Obviously Alex Johnson has been fantastic and for a second year player he has just been awesome. He has fit into the backline perfectly and plays his role every week. His ability to run off and things like that has been great.

Also Luke Parker and guys like that through the midfield and up forward have been great and we’ve got a really good mix, which should put us in good stead for the next few years.

What did you make of the Swans defence this season?

We definitely improved on last year and this year has definitely been our best year. We’ve had a pretty solid year and not too many of us missed game, which makes a big difference so we could mould together and learn how each other played and that definitely helped. Also the midfield pressure and forward line pressure helped us a lot as well, so it definitely wasn’t just the backline that stopped the goals.

Plans for the off-season?

I’ve got Tadhg Kennelly’s wedding in Hamilton Island this week so that will be nice and a few of the older boys are getting up there as well, which should be good. Then I head off to New York and the US for about a month with Nick Smith and a couple of the other boys as well and it should be a bit of fun and I look forward to it.

Where were you when the Grand Final siren went?

I was out on the oval and the last bit I remember was just being behind Mal’s goal, just watching Mal and watching it go through and then as the siren went Marty was the closest one to and we tackled each other that hard that we head-butted each other and from there on it was all go with the celebrations and it was just unbelievable.

What was your most memorable Grand Final moment?

I think Hanners’ mark was a good turning point. We were under the pump there and he does it every week, but he just dished it up again and just got the boys going.