It was a year to the day on Sunday that Lance Franklin started his career in the red and white. He had a stinker, Sydney lost to Greater Western Sydney, and the world nearly ended judging by the reaction to his first-up flop.

Franklin did not set the world on fire either on his 2015 debut but there will be no hysteria this time. For starters, the game at Drummoyne Oval did not matter. But the partisan crowd will be happy with what they saw from the Swans, not least because their side won a scrappy practice match by nine points.

The Swans, with 17 of their grand final 22 available, played with their trademark hardness and defensive pressure, which came to the fore in the second half when they kicked four consecutive goals to break the game open.

The final margin suggested the Dockers, who kicked the last four goals of the match, were in the hunt but the Swans were  the better side. Sydney won the clearance count by 41-28, had 84 more possessions while also laying 25 more tackles,  numbers that will please John Longmire.

The Dockers were better as the game wore on and will be better with Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Michael Barlow and Zac Dawson back.  Despite the Swans' control of the game, Franklin's numbers were uninspiring — he had six possessions for one goal — but this match was more about shaking off the cobwebs and getting miles into the legs.

Shadowed for most of the one and a bit quarters he played by Michael Johnson, Franklin moved smoothly and competed hard. Predictably, he was double teamed in the air though was not helped by the Swans' insistence on kicking long to him despite being outnumbered.

Adam Goodes saw slightly more game time, playing across half-forward and occasionally as the focal point when Franklin was off. He was held goalless and had just nine touches but, like Franklin, is a long way ahead of 12 months ago in his preparation for round one.

The Swans'  midfield, with Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker calling the shots, controlled the game and their defence was rock solid, strengthened by  Ted Richards.

Practice games, however, are about new faces and this year no young Swan will have the red and white faithful more excited than Isaac Heeney, 18,  who has been handed Ryan O'Keefe's No.5 in his debut season.

Heeney spent most of the game in attack with short bursts on the ball but despite having only trained full-time with the senior squad this summer the Swans way has already rubbed off. His attack on the ball was ferocious and his awareness around the packs was in keeping with the notes taken by talent scouts. If he can prevent his defender from zoning off he will be well placed to become a regular.