There was no place in the squad for Dennis Lawrence following the shock cup defeat at Havant and Alan Tate resumed his partnership in central defence with skipper Gary Monk.
Andy Robinson was only fit enough for a place on the bench and Bodde resumed in midfield after completing a suspension.
Such has been the turnaround in players at the Liberty Stadium that only two of the Swans line-up, Marcos Painter and Leon Britton, started in the last match against Vale as recently as April 2007.
Bodde announced his return with a superb crossfield pass to Tom Butler in the second minute, but no-one was on hand to finish off the cross.
Butler was sent clear by Paul Anderson in the 11th minute, but he skewed his shot well wide before the busy Anderson had his goalbound effort blocked by a packed Vale defence.
The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Bodde started a move by laying the ball out to Butler on the left flank.
When it was laid back in front of the Dutch midfielder he smashed the ball home from fully 20 yards, leaving visiting keeper Joe Anyon grasping thin air.
The Swans only took 90 seconds after the interval to double their lead.
The Vale defence failed to clear an Anderson cross and when the ball ran loose to Pratley, he calmly sidefooted home into the corner of the net.
It was the 100th league goal scored by the Swans at the Liberty Stadium.
Such was their complete control that the Swans were able to bring on all three substitutes, including new loan signing Febian Brandy, but although they continued in the ascendancy they were unable to add to their score.