Playing at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena for the first time, the Swans were jumped early by the fast-starting Kangaroos and went to the main break 14 points in arrears.
But 11 goals to one in the third term put paid to any thoughts of North’s first win of the season and helped the Swans maintain their own perfect record.
“(The message) was just probably about making sure we want to play the footy we know we can play,” Longmire said.
“We weren’t that happy with how our first half went.”
“North were playing a good style of footy and we probably didn’t shut them down enough. They had a lot of uncontested marks and once it was sorted through, obviously the third quarter was fantastic.”
Longmire credited his side’s ‘team defence’ and ‘intent with work rate’ for the turnaround.
“Mainly it was the players’ intent that really lifted in the second half and I thought the way our players went about it, particularly in the third quarter, was really impressive.”
Veteran utility Jude Bolton hit the scoreboard in style by notching four goals for the afternoon and echoed his coach’s sentiments post-match.
“It was a bit disappointing not to start as well as we wanted to. The game was on their terms during the first half,” he said, crediting gutsy small forward Ben McGlynn with a momentum-changing act of courage early in the second half.
“We just took enormous confidence out of Benny McGlynn going back with the flight,” Bolton said.
“It was a super-courageous effort and it really got our intent going and our pressure going from then on and we got a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence.”
With their tails up, the Swans quickly pulled clear of the Roos, Bolton admitting the reigning premiers had enjoyed playing their best football of the season to date during the third-quarter avalanche.
“Obviously it’s a really good buzz… you’re just more worried about pressure and intent and it just seemed to flow. It doesn’t always happen like that.”
