SWANS coach John Longmire rates star ruckman Shane Mumford a 50-50 prospect of returning for his side's crunch SCG clash with Fremantle on Saturday night.

Mumford was a late withdrawal from the team that was comfortably beaten by Hawthorn in last weekend's Grand Final rematch, with replacement Jesse White struggling to make an impact.

"We will see how he (Mumford) pulls up, probably after the session tomorrow (Tuesday)," Longmire said on Monday.

"We'll give him as much time as he needs (to recover).

"He'll definitely play if he's right ... and if he doesn't play, we just have to come up with another plan and make sure we compete in that area.

"We were beaten at the centre bounces on the weekend (against the Hawks) and it's something we need to address."

Mumford has been below his best this season, but the 26-year-old looms as a potential game-breaking big man against the injury-hit Dockers.

The visitors will regain star midfielders Stephen Hill and Nat Fyfe at the weekend, but are bereft of options in the ruck with Aaron Sandilands, Jon Griffin, Zac Clarke and Kepler Bradley all sidelined.

With Griffin sustaining a season-ending knee injury in Fremantle's win over Collingwood last Saturday, raw youngster Jack Hannath will be asked to shoulder even more of the ruck burden.

"They've been very good and they've been able to cover their injuries really well - they've had some key players injured," Longmire said.

"They've got a number of ruckmen on their list ... and they've been able to play someone like (defender) Zac Dawson in that (part-time ruckman) role."

Longmire noted poor ball use featured prominently in the reigning premiers' review of their loss to Hawthorn.

"There were plenty of examples of us not getting it right - be it using the footy or what happens when the opposition got the ball," he said.

"We're normally a bit better than that and we were pretty sloppy in that area, so we need to get better."

The Swans are 5-2, with tough matches against Fremantle, Collingwood, Essendon and Adelaide to come before suspended recruit Kurt Tippett is allowed to play for his new club.