Red flag to Sydney Swans' bull Ben McGlynn Sydney Swans coach John Longmire looks ahead to the grand final rematch against Hawthorn. SWANS midfielder Ben McGlynn has channelled the hurt of missing last year's grand final into arguably his best start to a season, becoming an inspirational figure leading into Saturday's re-match with Hawthorn. Great mate Josh Kennedy believes McGlynn's response to the heartbreak of missing out on a premiership flag due to a hamstring injury is adding extra grit to the Swans' title defence this season. McGlynn has played with rare ferocity this season, throwing his relatively small frame into contests like a man possessed. On Saturday night at the MCG, McGlynn gets the chance to show what he could have done on the game's biggest stage when Sydney take on Hawthorn again in a mouth-watering duel. "He's been determined all his career, but the disappointment of missing last year's grand final, you can tell it still burns deep inside him," Kennedy said. His courage and his attack on the ball is something he knows makes him a good footballer. McGlynn provided one of the highlights of last Sunday's 60-point win against the Brisbane Lions at the SCG when he threw risk out the window to take one courageous mark when running with the flight of the ball. "It's inspiring, when he plays like that everyone jumps on board," Kennedy said. When he's up and about, that forward pressure he applies is contagious amongst the side. I've seen him take those sorts of marks before when we were playing for Box Hill in the VFL. Sydney Swans midfielder Ben McGlynn enjoys a laugh at training. Picture: Philip Hillyard. Kennedy also took note of McGlynn's demeanour after he was ruled him out early in grand final week. He made a point of remaining positive around his teammates at training and again in the rooms on game day. "I don't know how I would have gone if it happened to me," Kennedy said. I walked taller knowing he was on my side. From the boundary line on grand final day, he was as much a part of it as anyone else taking the field even though he wouldn't admit it. That's how I felt. Adding to McGlynn's pain on the day was the fact all three of his brothers won premierships in the weeks leading up to the Swans' victory over the Hawks. Older brothers Shaun and Jason won premierships in Western Australia, while younger brother Zac helped their home town of Wentworth win the Sunraysia League premiership.