WHEN the Sydney Swans recruited Heath Grundy, the plan was to mould the young South Australian into a key forward.

But there were two significant obstacles in his way - Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.

This Sunday, Grundy will play his 100th match against the Western Bulldogs, a milestone that has taken some time to materialise.

A rookie elevation in 2005, Grundy made his debut in 2006, but would only play six games that season and 24 over the next three years as he tried to find his role within the team.

"It took him four or five years before he cemented himself in the team," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"He was recruited as a key position player and we played him forward with Hally and Mick.

"He was a bit unsure of himself and had some pretty big personalities in the forward line and was just trying to find his feet.

"He would play some good roles and kick two or three and then we wouldn't see him for a little bit and he'd be in and out of the team.

"It wasn't until we moved him to centre half-back that he was selected every week and became a really good player for us."

Not only was the youngster competing with some outstanding talent in the forward line, the side was also enjoying enormous success, including the 2005 flag.

Grundy, who turns 26 this Saturday, was dropped for the returning Nick Davis in the penultimate week of the 2006 season, missing the club's trip to a second straight Grand Final.

But he says it was all a valuable learning experience.

"As a young guy it was a little bit overwhelming running around with Hally and Micky O and Nick Davis, Ryan O'Keefe was playing half-forward as well, so it was a pretty tough forward line to break into," Grundy said.

"To be able to play alongside those guys was a huge thing for me and they were really good to me as well, I learned a lot off them."

Grundy began being used in a variety of defensive roles and also started working tirelessly on his fitness.

As he puts it, he was never the quickest member of the side, but decided to focus on his endurance.

It caught the eye of the coaching staff.

"He's certainly capable of playing on the opposition's big blokes and restricting their influence, but also linking up and getting possession," Longmire said.

"He's strong and he's one of our top runners, especially for a bloke who is over 100 kilos."

Grundy admits he is "pretty stoked" to reach the triple-figure mark, saying "it's been in the back of my mind a little bit the last few weeks and to finally reach it is nice".

His mum, sister, grandmother and some friends are all heading up from Adelaide for a birthday dinner on Saturday night, before heading to the SCG on Sunday for his milestone game.

"I couldn't have worked it out any better, could I?" he said.

"We just need to pick it up a bit [after last week's loss to St Kilda] and hopefully get a good win."