The Swans have been faced with a number of obstacles throughout the year - including losing Craig Bolton and potentially Daniel Bradshaw to retirement - while key players have been sidelined and game structures haven't come to fruition on a weekly basis.
Now twelve rounds in and life is looking good for Longmire with the emergence of two key position stars in forward Sam Reid and defender Alex Johnson while the team is contributing across the board.
Reid was again impressive against the Tigers with seven scoring opportunities (for two goals and five behinds) among his 11 disposals and three contested marks. While Johnson is playing well above his years as the general in defence and was again among the Swans' best despite having only played 11 games.
With the club now sitting three wins clear in the eight with seven victories, three losses and a draw, Longmire said he is pleased with the way the club is placed with 11 matches remaining.
"We've won five out of six now…hopefully with Kieren Jack coming back today and fingers crossed Shane [Mumford] next week it does give us some momentum going into a really tough game against Carlton [next Sunday]," Longmire said after the game.
The Swans have tinkered with their forward set-up for much of the year but they now appear to have the perfect mix following another forward demolition for the second week in a row.
With Adam Goodes staying predominantly in the front arc, Reid dominating in the air, a resting ruckman providing another tall target and quick smalls in Ben McGlynn and Ryan O'Keefe contributing, the Swans are starting to get the results on the scoreboard.
Despite the team's inaccuracy in front of goal (kicking 9.21 for the match) they scored on 30 occasions from 49 inside 50s against the Tigers.
Longmire said he is pleased with the way his forwards have started to gel in the last two weeks.
"We were really happy with the way we got the ball forward and were able to have shots on goal," Longmire said.
"Obviously we didn't kick accurately, and that would have made it a lot easier if we had done that, but the good thing about it was we were getting plenty of shots on goal.
"Ben McGlynn only had one shot on goal as our leading goalkicker so there were plenty of options going forward for us.
"In particular, Sam Reid's effort when he was marking the ball in the first half especially, he's an exciting prospect and it's fantastic to see him launching at the ball and taking contested marks."
With two games against top four opponents Carlton and Collingwood ahead, Longmire is faced with a selection dilemma following Mark Seaby's best on ground performance (36 hitouts, 21 possessions and five marks).
No.1 ruckman Shane Mumford didn't play against the Tigers due to a knee injury but is expected to be fit to face Carlton.
In his absence, Seaby has impressed as has Lewis Roberts-Thomson as a ruckman, forward and defender.
"He (Mark Seaby) is going to give us something to think about, there's no doubt," Longmire said.
"If Mummy comes back into the side next week do we play Mummy forward Do we play Seabs forward Do we leave Lewis Roberts-Thomson as a forward Those are the questions we've got to answer this week and hopefully we come up with the right mix."
