SYDNEY'S inability to convert in front of goal cost it a fourth successive win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

The Swans stuck with their much more fancied opponents for long periods of time but were disappointed with a return of eight goals and 15 behinds.

"Inside 50 conversion was going at 50 per cent, it's not bad, we just couldn't kick accurately," coach John Longmire said.

"We were able to have some scoring shots, you kick 8.15 [and] it doesn't look good."

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Geelong had two bursts of goals in the first and third terms which took the game away from Sydney, with the damage being done in the middle of the ground.

The Swans were missing co-captain and midfield bull Josh Kennedy, who injured his medial ligament last week against Collingwood.

"It's not often you come down to Geelong and have more scoring shots (23 to 20), and a fair bit went right for a fair bit of the game," Longmire said.

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"And then they kicked eight goals in (a cumulative) 15 minutes, which was the back end of the first and the first 10 minutes of the third.

"They kicked four goals from centre-bounce clearances. There were 11 (Geelong) goals all up from stoppages.

"(Patrick) Dangerfield's first eight or 10 minutes in the third was pretty special, and we couldn't stop him."

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Overall, Longmire was pleased with his side's style of play, especially against a side who now sits two games clear in top spot.

"We shifted the ball movement, we went in with a plan and the execution was pretty good. We had more scoring shots against Geelong in Geelong – the number one team in the competition, that's not an easy thing to do," he said.

"We just need to play the full period. There were periods in the game, about 10 minutes in the third, which were really costly for us."