SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire has praised the standout performance of Lance Franklin in Saturday's 63-point demolition of Adelaide, but he was happier with his whole team’s response when the game was on the line.

Franklin clearly played his best game for his new club against the Crows, booting four goals, directly assisting in another three while also collecting 20 disposals and taking six marks.

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But Longmire was more interested in the response of the club's leaders when the Crows challenged in the third term.

The home side closed to within two points in the third quarter before the Swans responded emphatically to turn a close game into a thrashing.

"He (Franklin) had a really good game for us, he was lively in our front half and was able to not only kick goals himself but help us as a team kick goals," Longmire said.

"He played really well today but so did the other 21 [players].

"The players made the change (in the third quarter) as far as laying some important tackles, winning some 50-50 balls. We thought our leaders were sensational when they were challenged.

"It's a real credit to the way they went about it and they were the blokes who were able to win the important contests and change the momentum of the game."

Longmire was relieved to have escaped a dreaded 0-3 start to the season, but insisted his group had work to do if it was to prove a genuine challenger.

Certainly the signs were ominous for the Swans' looming opposition – particularly given the absence of Kurt Tippett, Sam Reid, Adam Goodes and Craig Bird from Saturday's victorious team.

Threatening too was their ball use around the ground.

The Swans were fast and slick by foot, which Longmire attributed to increased pressure placed on his opposition.

"At least we're off the mark now which is good, but we've got a bit of work to do to get back to where we want to be," he said.

"We thought we took a step forward last week and I reckon we took another important step forward today.

"We were a lot harder and stronger and put a lot more pressure on. That's always key to a game of footy and when you're able to do that, it's amazing how often you're able to hit targets.

"We certainly were able to run the game out really strongly which helped our ball use."