Sydney Swans co-captain Adam Goodes has confirmed he is on track to return in the Swans’ round 13 Friday night clash against Geelong.

Speaking alongside the Minister for Sport Kate Lundy and the Minister responsible for Men’s Health Warren Snowdon promoting the beginning of Men’s Health Week, Goodes said he expected to be back in the red and white in a fortnight.

“If everything goes well in the next few weeks I’ll be back for the Geelong game which is after the bye,” Goodes said.

The Swans star said he might have been back on field sooner if the senior and reserves’ draw didn’t include a bye in the same round.

“Unfortunately the bye falls on a good time and bad time for me. If we had a game on I probably could have pushed for that, but as it turns out we have a bye and the reserves have a bye as well, so unfortunately I won’t be playing in Canberra with the reserves either,” he said.

To the likely dismay of opposition clubs, the dual Brownlow medallist said he felt in season-best fitness, following extensive running over the last month.

“For me, I’ve never had a soft tissue (injury) before but as I’ve been running the last weeks I feel like there is nothing wrong with me, so mentally I won’t be running around thinking there is something wrong with me or (think) I’m more prone now,” he said.

“I think the way I’m running now I feel actually more fit than I was when I got injured, so from that point of view that’s the positive that’s come out of having probably six weeks off.”

Despite spending a number of weeks on the sidelines, Goodes hasn’t stepped back from his responsibilities as one of the leaders of the club.

A self-proclaimed ‘bad spectator’, Goodes said he has made the most of his time off field.

“I’m not very good (at being on the sidelines),” he said.

“I don’t like sitting in the box because they’re just as verbal … as me.

“It’s frustrating (being injured) but at the same time I’m able to see the game from a different perspective and sort of put my coach’s hat on at half-time and post- game and I’m able to give the players’ feedback on their performance, game plan and structures and I can still have an influence over the group in those ways."

Ahead of this weekend’s all-important clash with Essendon in Melbourne, Goodes has urged his team mates to play more consistent football.

He said the disappointment of the St Kilda loss spurred on the Swans last Sunday, but the side must take that form into this weekend’s match.

“I think the first quarter was the emphasis of the week that we put on the players, that what turned up against St Kilda was unacceptable and it was a very un-Swans-like performance,” he said.

“To the credit of the 22 players that went out there Sunday night, they really showed in that first quarter that they wanted to make amends for that and we were really proud of that effort.

“What I said to the group the other day is that we can’t be a team that is like a yo-yo - we put out a performance like (Sunday) on our home deck and then travel somewhere else and put in a disappointing effort.

“Everything is geared up this week to tackle Essendon like we did in the first quarter against the Bulldogs.”

In light of next week’s Men’s Health Week, Goodes also took the opportunity to encourage his young fans to stay fit and healthy.

“Obviously being a professional athlete something we tell young kids is about making life choices and being educated enough to make the right choices,” he said.

“The thing we’ll talk to these kids about is eating properly, being active and making sure they listen to their coaches, and having those positive mentors to look up to.

“Not everyone aspires to be a professional athlete, but what we are saying to young kids out there is to be active and to be in a state of mind where you can make the right choice, and learn from your mistakes.”

Minister responsible for Men’s Health, Warren Snowdon, commended the work of the AFL and the Sydney Swans in promoting young men’s health.

“The AFL through its programs and the Swans are mentoring young men to become elite footballers, but they are also mentoring them to have a good life,” he said.

“They’re mentoring them through schools to make sure they get good outcomes and to make sure they are successful people throughout their life, not just in football.

“I want to thank the AFL and the Swans and the Academies around the country for the work they’re doing to encourage young men that they can do things that they may not have imagined.

“You don’t always have to have a Brownlow to be achieving things. You can achieve things by being healthy and by being with your mates and looking after each other.”