IT'S DIFFICULT to win games when you turn the ball over regularly and Sydney coach John Longmire was left to rue his side's poor execution in the forward third of the ground during their 22-point loss to Richmond.

The Swans fell to their fourth defeat of the season, with the Tigers' renowned pressure on the ball carrier regularly forcing Longmire's side into errors when going forward. 

The Tigers scored 81 of their 89 points from Sydney turnovers and Longmire said it was due to a combination of skill errors from his players and superb pressure from the opposition. 

TIGERS BARE THEIR TEETH Full match coverage and stats

"It is always about both. It is not about one or the other," he said.

"Their pressure was outstanding. They had 20 more tackles than us and 22 tackles inside their forward 50. 

"All up, I think the first half it was eight goals (conceded) from turnovers. That front third ball movement, we just turned it over consistently."

Longmire said he noticed the Tigers had seemed back to their best during their round four win over Port Adelaide, but trying to nullify what Richmond's strengths had proven too difficult. 

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"We knew going into the game, particularly forward third for us, the Tigers are able to score very heavily and it is a big part of their game," he said. 

"We talked about it and the fact their pressure was back to their best last week … everything else flows from that. We have still got to get our pressure right."

The loss sees the Swans drop to 15th place on the ladder with just one win to show from the first five rounds of the season. 

But despite the dangerous predicament, Longmire remains optimistic. 

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He still believes his side is capable of matching its early-season turnaround from two years ago and qualify for their 16th finals series from the past 17 years. 

"We have been in similar situations and we have been able to get ourselves going," Longmire said.

"But it's not a matter of just talking about it. It's a matter of going out there and doing it. And we also know it is not done through anything other than hard work and getting out there and working at your craft.

"We have turned it around before and we need to turn it around again, so that's the challenge in front of us."