2013 LADDER FINISH: Fourth

ARRIVALS: Aliir Aliir, Tom Derickx, Lance Franklin, George Hewett, Zak Jones, Jeremy Laidler, Patrick Mitchell, Toby Nankervis, Lloyd Perris.

DEPARTURES: Tony Armstrong, Jude Bolton, Alex Brown, Andrejs Everitt, Jed Lamb, Martin Mattner, Mitch Morton, Shane Mumford, Jesse White.

BEST 22
FB: Nick Malceski, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Jarrad McVeigh
C: Lewis Jetta, Ryan O’Keefe, Ben McGlynn
HF: Dan Hannebery, Lance Franklin, Kieren Jack
FF: Tom Mitchell, Kurt Tippett, Gary Rohan
Fol: Mike Pyke, Josh Kennedy, Craig Bird
Int: Adam Goodes, Dane Rampe, Sam Reid, Luke Parker

MEDICAL ROOM 
Adam Goodes (knee) 4-6 weeks
Luke Parker (eye) test
Kurt Tippett (knee) 3-4 weeks
Tommy Walsh (hamstring) indefinite

PASS MARK FOR 2014: They never make their aspirations public, but the top four would have to be the absolute minimum for a Swans side that finished there in the past two years and has since added Franklin. If they can enjoy a reasonable run with injury, they should be right in the mix for a second premiership in three years.

NEEDS A BIG YEAR: Gary Rohan made it back into the side late last year in one of the good news stories of 2013. Armed with a new contract extension, he will be keen to repay the club's faith and have a solid season. Time is running out for Tommy Walsh, who still faces a long recovery from a major hamstring injury and is off contract at year's end. Adam Goodes will also be keen to finish off strongly in what could be his final season.

FIRST FIVE GAMES: GWS (SPO), Collingwood (ANZ), Adelaide (AO), North Melbourne (SCG), Fremantle (SCG).

PLAY TWICE: GWS, Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond, Port Adelaide

TOUGHEST RUN: The Swans welcome Hawthorn to the SCG in what promises to be an enormous Friday night clash in round eight, before taking on Essendon in Melbourne and Geelong after their bye. They also have a tricky stretch late in the season, starting with West Coast in Perth, then Carlton, Hawthorn and Essendon.

DREAM SCENARIO: A Coleman Medal for Franklin would be a great start to his nine-year deal, although Kurt Tippett's presence may make that less likely. A decent run with injury for Goodes would also be warmly welcomed and the same applies to Mike Pyke, who will need to take on even more of a ruck burden following Shane Mumford's departure.

WORST NIGHTMARE: It would be hard to imagine a bigger injury toll than what the Swans had last year, but if the likes of a Franklin, Pyke, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh or Josh Kennedy has a long spell out, it could prove troublesome. A first defeat to the Giants in round one would also be far from the start the club has in mind.

PRESSURE RATING ON THE COACH: (John Longmire) 6/10 Heading into his fourth year, the pressure valve is low on Longmire, who has a flag and three finals appearances to his name thus far. But expectations will be high with Franklin in tow and anything but a healthy number of victories across the season could start to change the situation.