SYDNEY defender Jake Lloyd has backed coach John Longmire and the club's new-look leadership group to resurrect the team's woeful start to the season.
The Swans have won just one of their first six games – against Carlton in round three – and sit 16th on the ladder after losing their past three matches.
A young list and long-term injuries to experienced players such as Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy, Daniel Menzel, Kieren Jack and Nick Smith has seen the Swans competitive in most games, but unable to produce AFL-standard footy for four quarters.
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Lloyd said co-captains Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dane Rampe were working hard behind the scenes ahead of this week's trip to Brisbane, and Longmire had ensured there was no negativity creeping into the playing group, despite the club's predicament.
"He's been really good actually. It's been obviously a tough situation for him and he's copped a bit of stick in the media," Lloyd said on Thursday.
"But nothing's changed with him, he's got great relationships with the young guys and they're built from when they first step foot into the football club.
"He's able to have a laugh with them and pull them up when they have to be, but he's still really positive.
I walked in this morning and the music was going and the boys were singing and having a laugh, so although we're 1-5 we're confident we can turn things around.
The Swans only have to look at their 2017 season, in which they lost the opening six games of the year before making a stunning run to the finals, to know that this year can be salvaged.
Sydney won 14 of their last 16 games to make the eight, a hot streak that started with a 54-point win over the Lions at the SCG, and Lloyd said the players were well aware of that detail and had spoken about it this week.
"There's obviously different circumstances because we're up there this week, and there's a lot of different personnel, but we were in a similar position (at the time)," he said.
"That’s what the boys are excited about and it's a great opportunity for us."
Lloyd noted that the young Lions have overcome some dark times in recent years by blooding youth and the Swans have the exciting young talent to go about returning to form the same way.
"They played their young kids and guys like Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage have got plenty of games under their belts now," he said.
"We've got a young group of guys and players like Aliir Aliir who hasn't played a lot of footy, but he's playing a key role for us.
"It's about getting more game time and playing together as a group that's going to get us out of this."
