Despite recording a season-high 77-point win over the Adelaide Crows last weekend, Sydney Swans midfielder Ryan O’Keefe said the side can still get better.

The talented midfielder, who collected 28 possessions and laid an equal career-high 15 tackles in the win, said while Saturday afternoon’s result was positive, there was still room for improvement in the second half of the season.

“We came over (to Adelaide) and we really wanted to have a clear focus to play our brand of footy, which we’ve done over the last month, and to execute it like we did, I think it’s more the process and how we went about it rather than the result (which we were happy about),” O’Keefe told SwansTV after the game on Saturday.

“If you look at it, we probably dropped off a bit in that last quarter and let them get a few points back on us, but ultimately in the first three quarters we played some really good footy and really good team footy and we can go into the break with a bit of confidence and momentum.”

In particular, O’Keefe said the Swans would focus on improving their first-quarter efforts, after a slow start saw the Crows dominate possession and inside 50s early in the opening term.

“The first 15 minutes of the game was pretty poor and we weren’t happy with it,” O’Keefe said.

“They came out and played well and we were just off a little bit, and it just goes to show that it doesn’t matter who you play or where you play, if you’re off a little bit then teams will get a jump on you.

“We didn’t play the best first quarter, or the best first half of the first quarter, but to come out in front after the first quarter was a good sign and then after that I think we got it going.”

While the club veteran identified the Swans’ slow start to the match as an area for improvement, O’Keefe said he was impressed with the work rate of the club’s up-and-coming players in Saturday afternoon’s win.

Jesse White, Mitch Morton and Andrejs Everitt combined for seven goals, while young midfielder Tom Mitchell collected 31 disposals and 10 tackles and an AFL Rising Star nomination in just his second AFL game.

“The depth in our list has been quite pleasing and we don’t expect everyone who comes in to be the best player, but we want them to come in and play their role and that’s what our guys have been doing,” O’Keefe said.

“They’ve been coming in and doing their job and as a unit we’ve been able to play well.”

Another young player who continued to impress was 22-year-old defender Dane Rampe, who played his ninth career match for the Swans in Adelaide.

After making his AFL debut in round one, Rampe has become an important member of the Swans’ back-six, and collected a career-high 18 disposals and 10 one-percenters against the Crows.

Speaking to SwansTV after Saturday’s match, Rampe said he was one of a number of young players trying to play a role for the Swans this season.

“That’s just the strength of this club and it’s drilled in from the time you get here and if you play your role you’re going to be rewarded with a game, and it’s showing,” Rampe said.

“Everyone comes in and plays their roles whether it be Mitch Morton, Tommy Mitchell, Jesse White, and they are just playing their roles and that’s all we can ask.

“Even for myself, I’m not doing anything spectacular but I’m playing my role and I think I’m getting rewarded with games each week.”

Rampe said the victory over the Crows was one of the Swans’ best team efforts of the season, and one of the best matches he’s been a part of.

“It was such a good feeling out there and to do it in the fashion that we did was just a team effort and we stuck to our trademark and just came over and did a really strong job for the whole game,” he said.

“It was really good to be part of it and the best part of those wins is when you can see everyone playing their role and doing their little bits.”