The big four: Warwick Capper, Tony Lockett, Barry Hall and Lance Franklin. There can be no doubt the game is healthier in Sydney when there is a massive drawcard in the goal square. Capper likes to boast he "put them on the map" and he's probably not far off. Lockett, along with the great Ron Barassi, was a major force in lifting them from the brink of extinction. Hall was part of what at the time was the most successful era for Sydney, and now it's Franklin's turn. "I started the whole thing, didn't I?" Capper said. "I was the marking forward at the Swans. We've always had marquee forwards in Sydney; it works well. The city hates losers, they like getting on the bandwagon pretty quick. They like to have someone they can adorn over and kiss, and I was the man for that." What's often forgotten now is the Swans had a seriously good team during Capper's time, making back-to-back finals series in 1986-87 but bowing out in straight sets each time.

They were the buzz team in late July 1987, posting cricket scores on three consecutive weeks at the SCG, only to be humiliated in September. The hard training methods of Tom Hafey have often been cited by members of that side as the reason for their fadeout. "Tommy used to love flogging the shit out of us," Capper recalled. "We'd do 5k around Centennial Park and then 15 400s, 15 200s; a few complained a bit. "I used to like it because it made my arse skinnier so I could fit into the shorts. It kept me slim. We were a little bit tired but we should have gone one step further, which was a shame because it was a great era." The Swans of the late '90s went as far as a grand final but despite three 100-goal seasons from Lockett the flag proved elusive. They were, however, relevant again.

It took the defence-oriented game plan of Paul Roos to deliver a drought-breaking cup to the club. Hall was the spearhead in a team that excelled at stopping goals but who found scoring much harder. "I was the lucky one," Hall said. "I was in a group of players where we helped each other; it certainly wasn't about the key forwards. We were a good team outfit." So, too, is John Longmire's team of 2016. The main on-field issue in the Franklin years has been whether the Swans have been too dependent on their marquee signing for goals. It's a debate that flourishes no matter what Franklin does. If he kicks a bag then the narrative persists, if he does not score then questions are raised about his form. The talk has dulled this September. If you knew Franklin would average two goals a game in the finals, chances are you would not be tipping them to have made the grand final.

He remains a weapon in front of goal, and the Swans will keep looking for him inside 50, but there's just as much chance of him roaming the wings. "He'll be calling for it no doubt," skipper Jarrad McVeigh said. "If he's within half way he'll have a shot. "He's a beautiful field kick. He's probably the best field kick in our team. When he's there you want the ball in his hands ... he's the guy in the best spots with the big arms hanging out; you can't miss him." Lockett knows the pressure that comes with expectations. He won't say who of the two was bigger for the Swans but Franklin has the opportunity to achieve what he could not: a flag. Loading

"They're paying him good money and expectations are big," Lockett said. "That's part of the game. "He's delivered so far, he's been great but I'm sure he'd be very keen to have a real big game on Saturday. No matter what happens through the year, that's all gone. The focus is on Saturday; this is when you want to perform."