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Sydney are well placed to play finals for the first time since 2018, but Callum Mills says the team isn't daring to dream of a September return just yet.

Sydney's sizzling on-field form has been the talk of the AFL, but Swans midfielder Callum Mills is doing his best to hose down the hype.

The Swans are equal top of the ladder after posting convincing wins over Brisbane, Adelaide and Richmond to start 2021.

The Lions and Tigers are among the flag fancies this year, while the improving Crows have started the season in strong form.

Sydney were widely tipped to miss the finals for a third straight year, but they will be sitting pretty at 4-0 if they can beat Essendon at the SCG on Thursday night.

The last time Sydney started a season in such hot fashion was in 2012, when they reeled off five straight wins to start the year.

But Mills isn't getting carried away yet, with the 24-year-old keen to stick to cliches instead of making bold predictions.

"We're just taking it one game at a time, as cliched and boring as it is," Mills said on Tuesday.

"That's the reality of it because if you get too far ahead of yourself, things can come back to bite you."

Sydney are the highest scoring team after three rounds, posting mammoth totals of 125, 121 and 117 in their three games.

Mills said there hadn't been an extra focus on being a more attacking team this year.

"The exciting thing is that people have been talking about it, but we still pride ourselves on our defence and pressure," he said.

"If we can add different strings to our bow, it's awesome - as long as we keep those foundations.

"What we do well is we play well as a team. There's no individual who has to kick 10 goals."

Mills has embraced his move from defence into the midfield this year.

He tallied 29 disposals and two goals in the round-one win over Brisbane and he posted a career-high 31 disposals and eight clearances against Richmond last week.