If early pre-season form is anything to go by, Craig Bird looks set to improve even further this year following his breakout 2011 season.

Bird was one of the Swans best in Saturday night’s 17-point win over North Melbourne at Bruce Purser Reserve, picking up 18 touches, laying five tackles and kicking three goals.

In greasy conditions, Bird was poised and clean in possession and along with Josh Kennedy and the evergreen Jude Bolton, was a driving force in the Swans midfield.

After only featuring against Geelong in the opening series of the NAB Cup, Bird built-up his match time to play all four quarters on Saturday night, and told SwansTV after the game he was happy to capitalise on the opportunities he found up forward and through the midfield.

“It was good to get a couple of goals,” Bird said. “I rotated through the midfield and forward, so it was good to get on the end of a couple (of goals).”

“Hopefully I can just keep improving as this NAB Cup goes along and keep working on my match fitness towards round one.”

With Shane Mumford and Kennedy returning against the Kangaroos, and the team able to get the result without the likes of Adam Goodes, Ryan O’Keefe, Sam Reid, Dan Hannebery and Rhyce Shaw, Bird said signs were looking positive as the team builds towards the home and away season.

“We’re getting some of our better players back each week,” he said.

“Joey and Mummy are a key part of the team so it’s good to see them out there, and they had a good crack tonight.

“Joey was out there winning the contested footy like he does, and Mummy had a good run around, so it was good to see them get minutes.”

The Swans, who currently sit sixth on the NAB Cup table, travel to Melbourne this week to face Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. A win would keep them in the running for a spot in the NAB Cup Grand Final on March 17.