LUCKLESS Swans defender Alex Johnson faces another 12 months rehabilitation as he bids to become the first player to come back from five knee reconstructions.

Johnson was a member of the 2012 premiership team but has not added to his 45 career games since. 

The 24-year-old first ruptured his ACL in a pre-season game against Gold Coast in 2013.

Speaking to the Swans' website after his latest batch of surgery, Johnson said he was optimistic about his recovery.

"It all went really well," he said.

"The surgeons were really happy with everything – happy with the graft and how the knee looked overall.

"There’s some really positive signs early."

Johnson is staying in Melbourne with his family but hopes to return to Sydney soon.

"I’ve just been resting and icing it over the past few days," he said.

"I’ll continue that for the next week or so and then hopefully start moving around a little bit more.

"Hopefully in a couple of weeks I’ll get the all clear to get back to Sydney so I can get stuck into my rehab."