Premiership Coach, John Longmire indicated post match that the Swans had a tough day up against an improved Dogs outfit.
“It was a real battle today for us. Coming into the game we knew that the Bulldogs had improved pretty dramatically, particularly after the last month and we expected a real battle and that’s what we got,” Longmire said.
"We certainly didn’t have it our own way, they (the Bulldogs) were really good, had [95] tackles, their pressure around the ball was really strong and their outside runners have really gone to a new level.”
“They played well in a lot of areas, and I think that’s what we knew coming into the game – we talked to our playing group all week - their ladder position wasn’t exactly what we’d expect to receive in opposition this weekend and that’s what we got.
“You know they are pretty strong around the ball, they’ve got some really good contested players – some good runners as well”.
Asked about the pressure on the field, Swan’s Premiership midfielder Craig Bird noted the Dogs' ferocity around the contest.
“You could definitely feel it out there – there wasn’t a lot of room to move,” Bird said.
“They really brought the pressure and put us under the pump for most of the game and you could definitely feel that and I think there were quite a few sore boys at the end of the game.
"Full credit to the Dogs – they’ve really improved over the last few weeks."
While key Swan’s midfielder, Josh Kennedy - who was kept to just 18 disposals by young pup Mitch Wallis – told The Age he was “cooked, absolutely cooked’ after the game.
“I think it was the story of the day – the pressure they applied, I just felt like I had no room to move,” Kennedy said.
