Sydney’s small forwards have flown under the radar of the electric Lance Franklin early in the pieces of the Swans’ 2018 campaign.

But Swans coach John Longmire said the battle of the smaller men would play a major hand in the side’s match with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

“Small forwards are key players in the game now,” Longmire said.

“That’s why if you’ve got a small defender who can look after those small forwards they’re really important.

“The amount of ground-level pressure that’s applied these days by every team is huge in their forward half and we feel as though we have a good mix of forward pressure and the Bulldogs do as well. So that will be a challenge on the weekend.”

The Bulldogs shook off the cobwebs in Round 3 to register their first win of the season against the Bombers on Sunday and a number of their smalls impressed.

Jason Johannisen collected 16 disposals and a goal after stamping himself as one of the competition’s most exciting outside runners in the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership campaign.

He also kicked a stunning goal on the run from the right-forward pocket, while fellow small forward Mitch Honeychurch racked up 17 disposals and five tackles.

The likes of Isaac Heeney (23 disposals, six marks, five tackles, one goal) and Will Hayward (18 disposals, nine marks, two goals) were on song themselves on Saturday night.

Tom Papley also impressed with four tackles and a pair of goals, while veteran Kieren Jack collected 18 disposals.

Unheralded forward George Hewett played a different role to his fellow smalls but had an immense influence on the game in tagging the Giants’ Lachie Whitfield.

He was in red-hot form off the back of 34 touches against the Bulldogs in Round 1 and 26 possessions against the Magpies in Round 2.

But Hewett was assigned to playing a lock-down role on the 23-year-old and he didn’t find his first touch until 20 minutes into the second term and finished with just 15 disposals.

Longmire only had praise for the understated forward.

“He was able to play a really disciplined role,” Longmire said.

“He’s an important player whether he plays midfield or forward in one of those roles and he was a key player in the result. He’s in good form this year.”