He was drafted to the Swans in 1998, and coaching co-ordinator John Longmire says it is fantastic that he is the first player from that draft year to reach the 250-game milestone.

"The great thing about Jude is that he has improved even over the last two to three years,'' Longmire said.

"He is a fantastic clubman. Players love playing alongside Jude Bolton because he gives his all every time he takes the field. He's a great example for our younger players.''

Bolton has always loved the contest. During his 11 seasons and 249 games so far, he has copped more than his share of bumps from his uncompromising attack on the ball. But he called for the rules committee to enshrine the physical contest as a permanent part of the game.

"The game's obviously getting really fast and there are more collision injuries at different stages, but I never want to see the physicality taken out," he said on Wednesday.

"That's the greatest part of our game, the one-on-one duels and the physical nature."

Bolton expects to deliver more of his hard-nosed best against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday in his 250th game.  

The 30-year-old will become just the fifth Sydney Swans/South Melbourne player to reach the milestone, following Michael O'Loughlin, Adam Goodes, John Rantall and Mark Browning.

After playing 123 successive games since missing round 13, 2005, Bolton said it was a combination of luck and good management that kept him on the field.

"We've got a great group of guys who look after us here at the club," he said.

"But also things like yoga and ice baths and all the recovery techniques, you've just got to make sure you do everything to the letter of the law and try and look after your body.

"There's also an element of luck; I've lived with guys who have had plenty of injuries."

Concussions have been a regular consequence of Bolton's fearless approach, and one such incident with an overmatched opponent sticks in his memory.

"I remember [ruckman] Brad Ottens kneeing me clear in the temple one day; that wasn't too nice," he said.

"I remember getting up - well, not really getting up - and I actually thought it was my ball but he went back and kicked a goal.

"There are times when I've had a couple of clashes. I remember clashing heads at training a few times as well. It's just part and parcel of the game."

Bolton said the prospect of leaving the Swans at the end of 2007, when he was offered for trade during the annual player exchange, had spurred him to raise his game in recent years.

"Certainly, you realise that you are towards the latter half of your career and you've just got to make sure you make the most of it," he said.

"I'd had a couple of years where I'd plateaued so I wanted to put more into my footy and make sure I contributed to the team."

With his long-time midfield colleague Brett Kirk to retire at season's end, Bolton said it was even more important that he set the example for the new generation of Bloods ball-winners like Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery.

"We've set up at a lot of different stoppages along the way… and it's going to be a huge hole to fill," he said.

"That's where we need to step up as leaders around the place and hopefully we're developing the next group of guys coming into those leadership roles."