Assistant coach Brett Kirk says denying Essendon time and space will go a long way to winning Saturday’s clash at the SCG.

The Swans fell down in that area in last weekend’s close encounter against Brisbane.

Kirk believed there were too many “lapses” at the Gabba which allowed the Lions to move the ball effectively, hit the scoreboard in key moments and dictate the play at times.

A repeat performance will again leave the door ajar for an opposition side hungry for a win.

“We matched (Brisbane) in stages but there were too many lapses of concentration and intensity,” Kirk said.

“We saw that through some of our structures. We were up and down a bit and probably allowed them a bit too much space.

“To the boys’ credit, they really came at us but we found a way in the end.”

Essendon has had its challenges this season but still travel to Sydney with a balanced list of experience and youth, from seasoned skipper Brendan Goddard to promising youngster Darcy Parish.

Kirk says the Swans will be wary of the Bombers’ ability to find the football.

“The game against Melbourne, they took it up to them and won the inside ball,” Kirk said of Essendon’s Round 2 win.

“They also play a high uncontested brand of footy. If you give them space, they can really hurt you by finding targets, keeping possession of the ball and scoring quickly out the back on you.

“So we’ll be focusing on some of those things this weekend. But it’ll come down to what brand of footy we want to play and that’s a hard contested brand. We want to win the ball on the inside and deny them on the outside.”

Essendon has lost the past five clashes in Sydney, the last coming at ANZ Stadium in a contest won by the Swans in the dying minutes.