THE WEIGH-INS are complete, the protagonists are fit and all is in place for Buddy v Teddy III at the MCG on Saturday.

Ted Richards has blossomed into one of the AFL's best key defenders this season, leading to his first All Australian nod, and he has already had two epic battles with Hawthorn superstar Buddy Franklin in 2012.

Richards earned the decision back in round five in the Swans' impressive 37-point win in Launceston, before Franklin's incredible 10-minute, three-goal burst in the return bout in round 22 led him and the Hawks to victory.

Richards suffered a scare in the preliminary final victory over Collingwood when he rolled his ankle, but he has declared himself fully fit and raring to go for the decider at the MCG.

"I rolled the ankle last weekend and it was a little sore after the game, but full training today and it's all good," Richards told reporters ahead of the team's final SCG training run before heading to Melbourne.

"There was a bit of concern there and I went straight down to the rooms for some treatment, but I was able to fully play out the game.

"[Playing on Franklin] is not something I haven't done before. I've played on him a fair bit this year and last year.

"But in saying that, I'm fully aware of what he's capable of, he's a gun player, so if that job does go to me, it's something I'll be ready for."

Richards has been the commanding officer in the AFL's best defensive battalion this year, forming a miserly partnership with Heath Grundy, Alex Johnson, Nick Smith, Rhyce Shaw, Marty Mattner and Nick Malceski.

While Richards has proven capable of keeping Franklin quiet at times, particularly with his ability to spoil and chop off forward thrusts, he will also happily take all the help he can get.

"I certainly won't be knocking them back if they come over to help," he said.

"I'll be needing as much help as I can.

"If Nick Smith is playing on [Cyril] Rioli, they're real gun players and we all need to support each other.

"As a defensive group, we don't think it's going to be six one-on-ones.

"From our perspective it's six on six."

Much of the Grand Final build-up has centred around the contest between the competition's top-ranked defence and the most potent attack in the AFL in the Hawks.

But Richards believes that is doing his side's attacking weapons a disservice.

While the Swans don't boast a dominant key forward like Franklin, they have proven well equipped at scoring heavily and quickly this season.

Lewis Jetta has been a surprise leading goalkicker with 45 to date, but 11 Swans who will play on Saturday have kicked double figures, including Adam Goodes (36 goals), Sam Reid (30) and Josh Kennedy (27).

"I have been surprised that it seems only that polar opposite has been spoken about so much," Richards said.

"But we've got so many attacking options.

"We've got the height with guys like Sam Reid and 'LRT' (Lewis Roberts-Thomson), yet we've got the pace and smaller players like 'Jetts'.

"I think it's a real strength of ours that we've got guys that can play different attacking positions."

James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD