Swans warned of hard slog ahead in bid to save season
Coach Dean Cox has warned the slog has only started for Sydney as they try to put their AFL season back on track.
After bad losses to Melbourne and Adelaide, then a below-par opening quarter on Saturday, the Swans clamped Richmond and mauled them by 44 points at the MCG, winning 11.14 (80) to 4.12 (36).
The Tigers did not kick a goal from 19 minutes in the first term until 22 minutes into the last - understood to be a club record.
Sydney go into the bye with a 5-8 record and will have key players such as Errol Gulden and Tom Papley closing on returns from injury.
But Cox has warned last year's grand finalists have a long road ahead of them if they are to turn this season around.
"We're not in a position to go and forecast what's going to happen later on in the year. We have a lot of work to do," Cox said.
"I said to the players (post-game), 'it doesn't turn dramatically overnight, you have to work your way through this'.
"To their credit they did that this week. They have to do it through their bye, when we get back next weekend, through the week leading into Port Adelaide.
"You can't just rely on 'we've won one, take a breath, here we go', and also we get some people back maybe after the bye."
Sydney were called a rabble after the Adelaide thrashing, and they had a 6am beach session the following morning.
While Saturday was a grinding slog in cold conditions, Sydney showed signs of life.
It was only their third win in 11 MCG games - including the two heavy grand final losses over the past three years.
"They won in a way they might not have been pretty, but one we needed," Cox said.
With father John watching, Sydney's All-Australian defender Nick Blakey was best afield as he played their combined 500th AFL game.
This week, one media pundit had called the younger Blakey one of this season's biggest disappointments.
"He played more of an all-round game, which is what we're after ... he was really good," Cox said.
The Swans coach said assistant Amon Buchanan deserved credit for suggesting the inspired move of James Jordon to in-form Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin.
Not only did Jordon shut down Vlastuin, he also kicked three goals.
Another crucial move was sending James Rowbottom to Dion Prestia at quarer-time.
Prestia had racked up 13 disposals in the first term and kicked a goal. He only managed eight more possessions for the game.
Cox said Rowbottom was determined to "tackle anyone who came in his way", and the Swans onballer racked up an astonishing 14 for the match.
Midfielder Isaac Heeney showcased his class, and ruckman Brodie Grundy also shone, with 51 hit-outs - crucially restricting the influence of Richmond captain Toby Nankervis.
Tigers coach Adem Yze said he did not see the disaster coming and noted they started brightly.
"The things we tried just kind of didn't work. It just wasn't up to AFL standard," he said.
"We hope it's not inevitable, but we know there might be some pain along the way.
"The second quarter, I don't think we've played any worse for the year."
Coach Dean Cox has warned the slog has only started for Sydney as they try to put their AFL season back on track.
After bad losses to Melbourne and Adelaide, then a below-par opening quarter on Saturday, the Swans clamped Richmond and mauled them by 44 points at the MCG, winning 11.14 (80) to 4.12 (36).
The Tigers did not kick a goal from 19 minutes in the first term until 22 minutes into the last - understood to be a club record.
Sydney go into the bye with a 5-8 record and will have key players such as Errol Gulden and Tom Papley closing on returns from injury.
But Cox has warned last year's grand finalists have a long road ahead of them if they are to turn this season around.
"We're not in a position to go and forecast what's going to happen later on in the year. We have a lot of work to do," Cox said.
"I said to the players (post-game), 'it doesn't turn dramatically overnight, you have to work your way through this'.
"To their credit they did that this week. They have to do it through their bye, when we get back next weekend, through the week leading into Port Adelaide.
"You can't just rely on 'we've won one, take a breath, here we go', and also we get some people back maybe after the bye."
Sydney were called a rabble after the Adelaide thrashing, and they had a 6am beach session the following morning.
While Saturday was a grinding slog in cold conditions, Sydney showed signs of life.
It was only their third win in 11 MCG games - including the two heavy grand final losses over the past three years.
"They won in a way they might not have been pretty, but one we needed," Cox said.
With father John watching, Sydney's All-Australian defender Nick Blakey was best afield as he played their combined 500th AFL game.
This week, one media pundit had called the younger Blakey one of this season's biggest disappointments.
"He played more of an all-round game, which is what we're after ... he was really good," Cox said.
The Swans coach said assistant Amon Buchanan deserved credit for suggesting the inspired move of James Jordon to in-form Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin.
Not only did Jordon shut down Vlastuin, he also kicked three goals.
Another crucial move was sending James Rowbottom to Dion Prestia at quarer-time.
Prestia had racked up 13 disposals in the first term and kicked a goal. He only managed eight more possessions for the game.
Cox said Rowbottom was determined to "tackle anyone who came in his way", and the Swans onballer racked up an astonishing 14 for the match.
Midfielder Isaac Heeney showcased his class, and ruckman Brodie Grundy also shone, with 51 hit-outs - crucially restricting the influence of Richmond captain Toby Nankervis.
Tigers coach Adem Yze said he did not see the disaster coming and noted they started brightly.
"The things we tried just kind of didn't work. It just wasn't up to AFL standard," he said.
"We hope it's not inevitable, but we know there might be some pain along the way.
"The second quarter, I don't think we've played any worse for the year."
Coach Dean Cox has warned the slog has only started for Sydney as they try to put their AFL season back on track.
After bad losses to Melbourne and Adelaide, then a below-par opening quarter on Saturday, the Swans clamped Richmond and mauled them by 44 points at the MCG, winning 11.14 (80) to 4.12 (36).
The Tigers did not kick a goal from 19 minutes in the first term until 22 minutes into the last - understood to be a club record.
Sydney go into the bye with a 5-8 record and will have key players such as Errol Gulden and Tom Papley closing on returns from injury.
But Cox has warned last year's grand finalists have a long road ahead of them if they are to turn this season around.
"We're not in a position to go and forecast what's going to happen later on in the year. We have a lot of work to do," Cox said.
"I said to the players (post-game), 'it doesn't turn dramatically overnight, you have to work your way through this'.
"To their credit they did that this week. They have to do it through their bye, when we get back next weekend, through the week leading into Port Adelaide.
"You can't just rely on 'we've won one, take a breath, here we go', and also we get some people back maybe after the bye."
Sydney were called a rabble after the Adelaide thrashing, and they had a 6am beach session the following morning.
While Saturday was a grinding slog in cold conditions, Sydney showed signs of life.
It was only their third win in 11 MCG games - including the two heavy grand final losses over the past three years.
"They won in a way they might not have been pretty, but one we needed," Cox said.
With father John watching, Sydney's All-Australian defender Nick Blakey was best afield as he played their combined 500th AFL game.
This week, one media pundit had called the younger Blakey one of this season's biggest disappointments.
"He played more of an all-round game, which is what we're after ... he was really good," Cox said.
The Swans coach said assistant Amon Buchanan deserved credit for suggesting the inspired move of James Jordon to in-form Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin.
Not only did Jordon shut down Vlastuin, he also kicked three goals.
Another crucial move was sending James Rowbottom to Dion Prestia at quarer-time.
Prestia had racked up 13 disposals in the first term and kicked a goal. He only managed eight more possessions for the game.
Cox said Rowbottom was determined to "tackle anyone who came in his way", and the Swans onballer racked up an astonishing 14 for the match.
Midfielder Isaac Heeney showcased his class, and ruckman Brodie Grundy also shone, with 51 hit-outs - crucially restricting the influence of Richmond captain Toby Nankervis.
Tigers coach Adem Yze said he did not see the disaster coming and noted they started brightly.
"The things we tried just kind of didn't work. It just wasn't up to AFL standard," he said.
"We hope it's not inevitable, but we know there might be some pain along the way.
"The second quarter, I don't think we've played any worse for the year."
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