THE SYDNEY Swans were taught a massive lesson in efficiency going forward in their 89-point loss to Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, coach John Longmire says.
Hawthorn had just one more inside 50 in the opening quarter, but managed to kick 6.1 to 0.2, thanks to a combination of pinpoint disposal by foot, and the Swans' inability to find a teammate close to goal.
The Swans worked hard in the first term for 13 inside 50s, but in a damning statistic, every single one of their entries was repelled by the Hawks with poor decision-making and even worse disposal proving costly.
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"We couldn't maintain possession or couldn't hit targets or the scoreboard going forward, and we couldn't stop them from scoring the other way, and that essentially was the game," Longmire said.
"That's what they've been the best at and it was highlighted in the extreme tonight.
"If you give them an opportunity or a look they're the best at exposing any deficiencies that you might have on the turnover.
"Their conversions and their transfer of play from one end to the other was absolute elite."
WATCH: John Longmire's full post-match media conference
Despite the massive win, the Hawks only just won the inside 50 count 52-51, lost the clearances, and had less contested and uncontested possessions, showing just how clinical and efficient they were with the footy.
Hawthorn's pressure was also a big factor in the result, and Longmire says his side's turnovers killed their chances.
"It goes back to one team's efficiency with the ball versus the other; one team's efficiency to be able to convert opportunities into goals, versus our usual strength which is being able to restrict the opposition, and we didn't do it," Longmire said.
"They were able to score way too easily, obviously.
"When they won possession of the ball they just took it down the ground and kicked goals."
The Swans now have to regroup from a demoralizing defeat and get themselves up for perhaps the most daunting trip in the League right now, a clash with West Coast in Perth.
Longmire says his side can bounce back against the Eagles, but believes their actions hold the key.
"It's one thing saying it but its another thing doing it," Longmire said.
"We've normally got a group that's pretty resilient but we've got to actually do it.
"They're a pretty powerful team as well, so we've got to make sure we get our pressure up a lot better, not only around the ball but outside the contest as well."
Making matters worse for the Swans, midfielder Craig Bird looks certain to miss multiple matches after being subbed out of the game in the first quarter with a calf strain, while Kurt Tippett is in doubt for next week with a hand injury he carried throughout the second half against the Hawks.
