You can bet your bottom dollar the tackle count from Saturday’s qualifying final against GWS will be high on the agenda when the coaches and playing group come together early this week to dissect the disappointing loss.

The Sydney Swans worked hard to get the football when in dispute at ANZ Stadium, winning the contested possessions (157-154) and clearances (39-34), but when not in possession that hardness dropped off and the states showed as much.

The Swans were out-tackled 64-96, their worst differential (-32) of the season, a major deficiency from a side ranked first in the competition for tackles at the end of the regular season.

GWS then reaped the rewards, scoring 11.9.75 to 5.7.37 from intercept turnovers.

Co-captain Jarrad McVeigh was critical of team’s lack of intensity and pressure when the football was in opposing hands.

“Around the ball we weren’t hard enough,” McVeigh told SwansTV post-match.

“They out-tackled us a lot and a lot of our tackles missed as well.

“They ran through us pretty easy.”

It was a common theme throughout the game, GWS racking up a 51-32 tackle count by half-time, a season-high tally from the Giants.

Despite these numbers, Sydney hung on to go into the main break only two points behind.

“I thought we were alright in the first half – we were right in the game,” McVeigh added.

“They just overran us and were harder than us (in the end) so we’ll need to hit back stronger next week.”

Fortunately, Sydney has another chance to put its finals campaign back on track in Saturday night’s semi-final clash with Adelaide at the SCG.

Sydney doesn’t boast a strong record against Adelaide at home, having lost four of the past five encounters at the SCG, but will take plenty away from the last of those when the Swans defeated the Crows by 52 points in Round 18 last year.

The Swans have won three of the past four encounters overall.

“We’ve played some really good footy this year, we’re still right in (this finals series),” McVeigh said.

“I’m really confident in the team. I’m sure we can hit back strongly (against Adelaide).”