It’s confidence-boosting coaches and teammates who make the grass greener at the SCG.

Sydney’s recruitment of Lance Franklin will dominate the publicity attached to the AFL club’s run to an 11th finals campaign in 12 seasons.

But their less exceptional bid for Jeremy Laidler is the latest reminder of the Swans’ status as the league’s premier last-chance saloon.

Laidler left Carlton as a delisted free agent at the end of the 2013 season, having first been picked up by Geelong in the 2007 rookie draft.

He totalled 26 games at those two clubs.

The 24-year-old will play his 16th match in the red and white when the Swans clash with Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday night.

Laidler, hunted by coach John Longmire as a like-for-like replacement for retired rebounding defender Marty Mattner, has featured in all 12 of the Swans’ consecutive wins.

Ever since that first conversation with Longmire, the premiership coach has been nothing but a source of self-belief for Laidler.

“It’s pretty simple. He wanted me to play a role and he’s had the confidence in me to do that,” Laidler told AAP of how Longmire has got the best out of him.

Laidler said advice from John Blakey, and analysing footage with the help of the assistant coach and fellow defenders, had also helped him improve.

“I’m always trying to get little tips at training and it’s the same when I watch my vision back with the whole backline group,” he said.

“Heath Grundy, Teddy Richards, Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw – there’s a lot of experience there.

“But I also get a lot of confidence from Dane Rampe too, he is in his second season at the club and plays the same position as me and it gives me a lot of confidence.”

Laidler points to Sydney the city as another key factor in his no-longer-flagging fortunes.

He’s free to frequent cafes, beaches and golf courses without thinking about AFL or receiving unsolicited advice.

“You can get away from footy if you need to .. it has definitely been very beneficial,” Laidler said.

“Up here you can really focus on your footy and not have any distractions.”