Battle-hardened Swans midfielders Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker and Kieren Jack have 792 games of AFL experience between them.

But the Swans’ engine room is only going from strength-to-strength as the youngsters throw their hands up for midfield rotation.

Hannebery says Sydney’s move to cycling more players through the midfield in 2018 is paying dividends.

“In the past we might have had only three, four, five guys max going through there, but now we’ve got seven or eight spinning through there,” Hannebery said.

“Tom Papley, George Hewett, Isaac Heeney, Zak Jones – those four guys in particular have added a real mix to us and helped us improve as a midfield group and as a side as well.

“Kieren Jack, Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy being in there helps those guys as well. It’s a good mix and I think it’s important for a footy side and a midfield to have a lot of guys who go through there rather than just the three or four people.”

Jones not only brings strong endurance to the midfield but aggression. 

He played his second game of the season in the seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs last Saturday and finished with 17 touches.

Papley bagged a pair of goals but showed his strength as a midfielder in continually putting his head over the ball in a return of 10 contested possessions and a Swans-high five inside 50s.

Hewett spends the majority of his time as a forward and is one of the side’s most versatile combatants.

The 22-year-old – who reached 50 AFL games earlier in the season – has a pin-point eye for goal, played an exceptional lock-down role on Giants half-back Lachie Whitfield in Round 3 and finds a lot of the Sherrin when wheeling through the midfield.

Heeney (20 disposals, two goals) collected a game-high eight coaches votes in the win over the Dogs and Hannebery says his impact as a midfielder is immense.

“I think he was shaping up to have a similar start to what he’s had this year last year,” Hannebery said.

“His pre-season last year was unbelievable but he was struck down by glandular fever.

“He’s showing the sort of player he can be. He’s going to keep evolving and keep improving no doubt, but he’s given us a massive lift in the midfield and he’s given us a different look as well.”

Hannebery made his first appearance of the season in Round 2 after fighting off a calf niggle early in his 10^th season as an AFL footballer.

“It took a while through the pre-season and it wasn’t the preparation you’d like heading into an AFL season but now after a couple of games I’m feeling really good,” Hannebery said.

“The body’s really good, the fitness is up to scratch and I’m looking forward to Adelaide this Friday night with hopefully a packed SCG.”