IN THE space of one poor half, the Sydney Swans' premiership chances nosedived on Saturday, but coach John Longmire remained as pragmatic as ever.
After trailing by just two points at half-time, the Swans lost by six goals to the Giants and have likely lost NAB AFL Rising Star winner Callum Mills to a hamstring injury.
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The loss has pitchforked the minor premier into a sudden death road to the Grand Final, but Longmire remained optimistic.
He admitted the Swans were thoroughly outplayed by their Sydney rivals, but said his team now got to take advantage of finishing on top of the table.
"The good thing is we've earned the double chance and we get another go next week," Longmire said.
"We get to look at what we didn't do that well tonight and be able to try and remedy it, and that's the advantage of getting in the top four, you get that extra chance and we get another crack at it next week."
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And they'll likely be doing so without impressive teenager Mills, who limped off in the second quarter.
Longmire was coy about a recovery period, saying they would have to wait for scans.
However, when pressed on the importance of Sunday's NEAFL Grand Final – involving the Swans and Giants – Longmire said there would be at least one spot up for grabs in next week's elimination final.
The coach downplayed the effect of losing ruckman Kurt Tippett and midfielder Josh Kennedy to concussion tests for half of the second quarter.
Josh Kennedy is off the ground going through concussion tests after this incident. #AFLFinals https://t.co/dlqt4VEuET
— AFL (@AFL) September 10, 2016
His major concern came with his team's lack of pressure around the ball.
The younger Giants outworked the Swans, racking up 95 tackles to 63.
"They're an extremely good football team, and we were in the game until half-time, but unfortunately they got hold of us in the second half," Longmire said.
"We didn't have the weight of numbers to play against a really, really good footy team.
"They out-tackled us, the tackles we did lay weren't effective enough and they were able to run.
"Then we couldn't convert it the way we should have when we went forward.
"They're not only a talented team, they're a hard team and they play fiercely.
"This time of the year that's what you expect. You need to make sure you're ready for it."
