ON ANOTHER difficult night for Sydney, Tom Papley's courage should be a standard to which his Swans teammates are held accountable.

With his team being outplayed and trailing early in the last quarter, the small forward hurtled back with the flight of the ball into the path of oncoming Brisbane giant Oscar McInerney.

Papley was giving away 27cm and a whopping 31kg to his opponent.

LIONS BREAK SWANS HOODOO Full match details and stats

The result? Papley created enough of a contest that McInerney spilled the mark, but in the process copped the knee of the Lions' monster right in his ribs.

The 22-year-old remained on all fours for at least 90 seconds after the incident before barely being able to hobble off.

Miraculously he returned not more than 10 minutes later, kicked his fourth goal and help keep Sydney alive, before it ultimately lost by 22 points.

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"It was an incredible effort," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"He just keeps having a go, Paps.

"That effort going back in front of a big bloke coming out was just huge, absolutely huge and it saved us a goal.

"That's the sort of standard that's required over a consistent four-quarter performance.

"To get up and still kick a goal afterwards was really gutsy.

GAMEBREAKER Tom Papley gallant in defeat

"There were a couple of things we've got to look at that were really good, but there's still a fair bit to work on. I was surprised he could come back on."

Although the Swans battled hard for most of the night, they were really clinging to the cliff's edge.

With Brisbane getting repeat inside 50 after repeat inside 50 – they won that statistic 77-40 – and dominating the contested possession count 184-142, the score could have really got away from Longmire's men.

"It was a slippery night, but you've still got to win the contest," he said.

"Our contested ball numbers were right down and have been for the year. In the end you can look at it and boil it up whichever way you like, but you've just got to get across and win the contest.

"We look at the personnel, we'll keep looking at the personnel – trying to add different numbers through there and seeing who should be going through there."