Sydney veteran Jude Bolton will play in today's Grand Final against Hawthorn despite requiring a full knee reconstruction, according to reports.

Bolton, 32, injured the knee in a sickening incident in Round 19 and conceded at the time that he thought his career was over.

He missed three games before returning in Round 23 and last week celebrated his 300th game for the Swans.

Former Geelong captain turned commentator Cameron Ling revealed the full extent of Bolton's injury this morning, saying he has significant tears in his anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament.

He also said Bolton would likely retire after today's Grand Final, should Sydney claim the 2012 premiership.

He played in both the 2005 and 2006 deciders and has admitted that the pain of their loss to West Coast six years ago is still burning.

"I certainly don't want to have that feeling again," Bolton said on Thursday.

"I know we were slumped on the ground after the game. You know that there are moments in that game where you easily could have performed a lot better than what you did.

"So I want to make sure we come off the ground as winners."

One of many factors behind the Swans' rise up the ladder this season was their improved goalkicking accuracy.

It was arguably the difference in their qualifying final win over Adelaide, in which their 11.5 easily triumphed over 5.12.

However the radar went missing in a 26-point win over Collingwood last Friday, in which the Swans booted 13.18 and failed to make the most of their plentiful opportunities.

Sydney can at least take heart from the fact Hawthorn also suffered the yips in their preliminary final.

The Hawks entered their attack 26 more times than Adelaide and had 10 more scoring shots, yet scraped home by just five points.

Lance Franklin kicked 3.5 and sprayed another shot out on the full against the Crows.

"This week we need to take our opportunities when we can, because otherwise it can cost us," Franklin said earlier this week.