The two-point loss to the Hawks at the MCG was the Swans' fourth successive defeat, but Roos was far more positive about the result than the previous trio of losses.
"No one tipped us to win, and obviously we went down there with a pretty understrength team against a side that's got a lot of quality in it and played really, really well. It's definitely a step forward for us," he said.
"Give or take a couple of things, we could quite easily have won the game. Going into this week against Essendon, hopefully the guys have got a bit more confidence."
Effort was a focus for the Swans in the lead-up to the Hawthorn game, and if they are to break out of their slump against the Bombers at the SCG this weekend, Roos said his players needed to maintain their intensity for the full 120 minutes.
"When you have a big win or a big loss, it doesn't get highlighted as much, but in every game of footy, everything makes a difference, from the first minute of the game to the last minute of the game," he said.
"Probably over the course of 120 minutes, [Hawthorn] just were better at more contests. If you broke it down to every single contest - not that we ever do - I suspect they were just slightly better which means at the end, they get up and have a win."
With Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton and Jarrad McVeigh largely occupied with their respective battles with Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Brent Guerra, Roos said the ability of the Swans' youngsters to lift continued to impress him.
Nick Smith kept Hawthorn star Luke Hodge's influence to a minimum, Shane Mumford dominated in the ruck, and Gary Rohan provide his now-customary spark in a new defensive role.
And no wrap of the Swans' performance would be complete without plaudits for Dan Hannebery's outstanding 25-possession, three-goal effort.
"We talk a lot about tactics and things like that, but Dan has a great ability to go and win the football, which is the most basic thing in AFL football," Roos said.
"Sometimes I think players get caught up in where to stand, what to do, how to get the ball - Dan just goes and gets it, which is a great quality to have."
The Swans did not report any new injuries from Sunday's game, but Roos said Craig Bird was a good chance of playing against Essendon after returning from a foot stress fracture through the reserves at the weekend.
