SYDNEY SWANS coach Paul Roos was left to rue poor ball use and inaccurate goal kicking after the Swans' 18-point home loss to the undefeated Western Bulldogs.

“I think at the end of the day that was the difference in the game. If you keep missing goals, you end up losing games,” Roos said after the match, won by the Dogs 18.4 (112) to 14.10 (94).

“The players have got to address it and fix it. And we can practise, practise and practise so clearly today it cost us the game.

“We played some good footy, but they [the Bulldogs] were cleaner with their skills and obviously more accurate with their kicking.”

On a more positive note, Roos said he was happy with Swans debutant Henry Playfair in a forward structure that won't see Barry Hall return for another six to eight weeks.

“You could see Henry was significant, and he took the pressure off Mick [O'Loughlin] who was moving really well. [Amon] Buchanan was put down there as a forward rather than a midfielder and he did well.

“So our forward structure is really good, but it is frustrating as a forward when guys are streaming through the middle of the ground kicking to the opposition, or kicking along the ground or kicking into the man on the mark.”

Roos noted that some of the Swans' best ball users, such as Nick Malceski and Tim Schmidt, aren't currently playing.

“Some of the guys who don't use the ball well are getting a game at the moment, which is frustrating," he said.

On Malceski, Roos was happy to report that his attacking defender was a few weeks away – notwithstanding the next two weeks of training – of a return to playing with the reserves.

“It just goes to show you how much you miss them,” added Roos.

“The difference between the two sides today was they kicked their goals and moved the ball by foot really well, and we didn't.”

Roos also said that the bye for next weekend's Hall of Fame tribute match came at a useful time, particularly for some of the younger Swans such as Kieren Jack, Jarred Moore, Craig Bird and Ed Barlow – who've had plenty of game time in the first seven rounds and could use some rest.