Darcy Cameron and Michael Knoll joined forces on Saturday afternoon to show the Sydney Swans’ ruck stocks run deep in blossoming talent.

Sydney couldn’t match the Brisbane Lions on the scoreboard in a 71-point loss at South Pine Sports Complex, but Cameron and Knoll showed plenty of exciting signs in the 17.19 (121) to 8.2 (50) defeat.

Knoll collected a match-high 23 hit-outs in his first game since signing with the Swans via Monday night’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft, and the former US college basketballer also booted his first goal for the club, while Cameron posted 20 hit-outs, 15 touches and two goals.

Cameron and Knoll led Sydney to a 46-26 hit-outs win, and Swans development coach Jeremy Laidler was impressed with the performances of the big-framed duo.

“Darcy and Michael both had some good moments,” Laidler told Swans Media.

“They definitely showed a little bit to be proud of. It was good to get Michael in and give him a run in the ruck, and it was good to see him get on the end of one and kick a goal. Darcy and Michael were both serviceable today.”

Midfielder James Rose gathered a game-high 33 possessions and 11 marks, first-year draftee James Rowbottom tallied 24 touches and fleet-footed defender Ryley Stoddart finished with 21 disposals.

Stoddart’s drive from the Swans’ defensive 50 continually challenged the Lions, with the 19-year-old showing no fear in bouncing the footy and testing the opposition with his searing pace.

"We've been encouraging Ryley to take the game on and get the ball in his hands as much as possible," Laidler said.

"He works really hard at the defensive side of his game, he's a really good ball-user and he breaks lines. We've been really encouraging him to take the game on at every chance and over the last couple of weeks he's taken that to a new level, which has been really pleasing."

Fellow speedster Cody Hirst, the second and final of Sydney’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft picks, also showed promise.

Not only did the 19-year-old showcase his excellent speed and endurance, he produced a deft and well-weighted kick from the left-forward pocket to set up one of Cameron’s two goals.

And Cooper Kilpatrick was the best of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy top-ups on his way to two majors.

But the Swans’ 22 ultimately weren’t able to contain a powerful Lions force, and Sydney will look to rectify in a clash with GWS at Blacktown International Sportspark next Sunday.

Laidler is clear on where he wants his charges to improve in the cross-city encounter.

"Our effort for four quarters will be really important next week. We started really slowly today and missed some crucial opportunities to put our mark on the game," Laidler said.

"We can't let that happen again. We've let it happen twice against the Lions this year. They've jumped us around the contest and their work rate was a lot better in the first quarter than ours. We'll analyse that and we won't let it happen against the Giants."

Brisbane Lions 7.6 11.9 13.15 17.19 (121)

Sydney Swans 2.1 4.2 7.2 8.2 (50)

Goals – Sydney: D Cameron 2, C Kilpatrick 2, B Ronke 2, M Knoll, S Wicks