NICK Blakey's status as a blue-chip prospect is well known to the footy world, but the Sydney youngster's signature moment in his breakout game had nothing to do with his prodigious talent.

Blakey's bottom-of-the-ladder Swans were clinging to a single-digit lead in Friday night's clash with Essendon deep into time-on in the final term, with the Bombers peppering their forward 50.

With less than 30 seconds to play, Jake Lloyd's quick kick out of defence eventually landed in the hands of Mason Redman, but before the Bomber could pump the footy back into the danger zone, he was run down by a monster Blakey tackle.

It was such a big moment that injured superstar Lance Franklin leapt to his feet in the coach's box to applaud his young teammate.

Blakey's coach John Longmire was full of praise for the draftee's last-minute heroics that helped the Swans to a five-point victory.

"We knew that (he was a talent), but he's also a massive competitor too," he said post-match.

"He rose to that occasion a laid a really effective, quality tackle for us.

"He's just a great kid to work with and he understands the game really well which I've noticed coaching on the bench, he's really in tune with the game."

Blakey (17 possessions and a goal) and fellow teenager Tom McCartin (three contested marks and a goal) had some important moments against the Bombers, with the pair fighting well out of their weight division against experienced Essendon pair Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker at times.

"It's exciting," Longmire said.

"They're not going to win their contests every time they go near the ball, but we think for the future of the footy club we've got a couple of handy ones there that can help us out, and that’s really important.

"If you look at our key forwards against their key defenders, I think they're key defenders have almost 350 games (between them) and McCartin and Blakey have played 28.

"We're not going to get it right all the time, but we thought we got it right for the majority of the game tonight."