Franklin was one of a number of key players out for extended periods last season along with Isaac Heeney,Josh Kennedy and Dane Rampe. Despite this Longmire said the Swans revival actually began last season.

“We were playing some players who were getting some valuable experience,we pushed some good teams right to the wire,” Longmire said.

“This year we’ve added a couple more of those younger players,(Errol) Gulden and the like,and we’ve continued to evolve as a team.

“We’ve got some of those experienced players back,which is very important,and that all adds up to the belief of our team to continue to go forward.”

Meanwhile the GWS Giants will regain acting captain Toby Greene after he finished his period of COVID isolation with team mates Matt de Boer,Kieren Briggs,Jake Stein.

Greene will lead the eighth-placed Giants in another must-win game,this time against fourth-placed Port Adelaide at the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium on Sunday.

Giants coach Leon Cameron said the Giants’ playmaker would be “a bit rusty” after two weeks out.

Greene may keep the captaincy for the season as skipper Stephen Coniglio continues to struggle with ongoing complications from a toe injury.

“One thing we will not be doing is rushing him if he’s not right,” Cameron said of of Coniglio.

“That’s not fair because it’s a significant part of your body when you’ve got to run hard and run 15-16 kilometres a game. We have to make sure it’s right for him to perform at his best.”