Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes is yet to hit top form after lay-off

ADAM Goodes may still be at least a month away from playing his best football, Swans coach John Longmire warned yesterday.

ADAM Goodes may still be at least a month away from playing his best football, Swans coach John Longmire warned yesterday.

Regaining his touch after a six-week quad injury has been hindered by soreness from last Friday night's desperate victory over Geelong, which will prevent Sydney's most imposing player joining in full training this week.

Goodes had just seven uncertain possessions before being subbed off against the Cats for Andrejs Everitt, who kicked the winning goal after it appeared Geelong had pinched the match.

Longmire conceded Goodes may be subbed off again in the local derby against Greater Western Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

"Sometimes it takes a month or so before you get back into the groove of playing really good football," Longmire said yesterday.

"Sometimes it happens more quickly. Sometimes it happens later. There's no one size fits all and you can't say it will be two weeks, three weeks, this week. It just takes a little bit of time.

"It's the same when Sam Reid missed a little bit of footy at the start of the year. You've got to train as well as play. It's not just all about playing.

"You've got to be able to train to get your touch back."

Longmire was pleased that Goodes simply got through the game unscathed, even though he made no discernable contribution.

"For Adam Goodes to come in after missing six weeks and for it to still be difficult (for him), it just shows how tough the game is," said Longmire. "We were just thrilled for (Goodes) to be able to get through the game and to be able to play 65-70 minutes of footy and we were able to put the vest on him (as a sub) and make sure he is right for next week both training wise and playing wise," he said.

"He was still a bit stiff today and if he was to play 85-90 minutes out of that game, he might have been in real jeopardy for this week.

"And like I said before the game - don't expect any miracles from Adam Goodes (in his comeback game)."

"I think it's been the same with Shane Mumford, and I don't think it matters who you are, very few people are able to walk in after missing a significant bit of the footy season and be able to pick it up just like 'that'; the competition is too tough and you've really got to respect the competition," Longmire said.

The Giants appear the ideal opposition for Goodes to regain his composure against.

Improving in recent weeks with some solid performances, GWS was particularly disappointing after quarter time against lowly Melbourne at the MCG last Sunday.

The Giants and Demons had just one win apiece going into the match but GWS was flogged by 78 points after opening up an early lead.

Longmire was doing his best to ignore that result when he attempted to talk up the Giants yesterday.