The Swans had built the clash up as a huge test but the Magpies nullified one of the home side’s strengths from the outset, dominating the stoppages in the first term.
Collingwood struggled to convert its opportunities in the first half - the Pies scored 7.11 to half time - but its four-goal advantage was always going to be hard to reel in.
“We always knew it was going to be a tough night and they certainly came out firing and exposed a couple of weaknesses in our game that we’ve got to go back and work on,” Kennedy said after the game.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement in [the stoppages], especially early. I think we’ve just got to take it for what it was and try and build on it.
“At the end of the day, it’s only 25 points and we didn’t play that well, so hopefully we can improve on our game and get them next time.”
The Swans rallied in the middle in the second term and Kennedy, along with co-captain Brett Kirk, was one of key players as the home side began to match Collingwood’s on-ballers.
He finished with 26 possessions and seven centre clearances but he said there was still plenty of work to do.
“I think we all wanted to try and take it upon ourselves to make a difference because they smashed us in the first quarter,” Kennedy said.
“It was really disappointing and I’m glad that I was able to help, but there are certainly areas in my game which I need to improve, and Kirky’s the same. As long we can get together as a team and work on them, we’ll be all right.”
The Swans drew within four goals in the final term but crucial mistakes halted their momentum, allowing Collingwood to settle through Alan Didak and Chris Dawes.
Those errors were a far cry from the slick Swans that won five of their first six games and Kennedy said the team hoped to improve before its round-14 clash against Richmond at the MCG.
“When we got within 20 points, it was just a couple of skill errors - one on my behalf - that cost us and that’s the sort of stuff that we can clean up and turn around pretty early,” he said.
“Maybe it’s the pressure from the opposition or it’s pressure that we put on ourselves. I think it’s something that we can turn around with a good work ethic during the week and hopefully back it up in the coming weeks.”
