Sydney Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh has lamented the Swans’ lack of intensity in the second half of Friday night’s 21-point loss to the Cats.

McVeigh, who finished the game as the Swans’ leading goal kicker with three goals, said the team’s tackle count (47 tackles) and lack of defensive pressure was well below the standards expected at the club.

“(Geelong) were a lot harder than us and to finish the game with 47 tackles, which we had was pretty embarrassing for our group,” McVeigh told SwansTV.

“That was probably the story of the day – those two quarters and the tackling pressure was well below par.”

After a free-scoring first quarter, which saw the two teams combine for 15 goals, the Swans edged ahead at half time to enter the main break with a five-point lead.

Despite the team’s strong first half performance, the Swans could not match it with the Cats in the third quarter and were outscored seven goals to one and trailed by 31 points at the final change.

Disappointed with his team’s performance on their home ground, McVeigh said the Swans were seduced into the Cats’ quick style of football, and did not play the game on their own terms.

“I think they stepped it up in the second half and we didn’t go with them,” he said.

“We were playing their type of style, which is a real fast game and the ball was whizzing around and we needed to slow it down a bit.

“We felt we weren’t really playing our game plan throughout the night and when they stepped it up, we couldn’t go with them.”

McVeigh highlighted the lack of pressure from the Swans forwards and midfield as the cause of the dramatic second half turnaround, which saw the Cats outscore the Swans ten goals to six.

“It was very hard for our defenders,” McVeigh said.

“The ball was coming in so easily and that’s the forward and midfielders’ responsibility, and the pressure up the ground wasn’t good enough.

“We weren’t forcing those high balls, they were getting it lace out and our defenders tried hard but they can’t stop that.

“For us, the pressure is where it starts and that’s where it finishes as well.”

The Swans will now turn their attention to next week’s Anzac Day clash with St Kilda in Wellington, with the squad set to board a flight to New Zealand on Monday morning.

McVeigh said the team would need a dramatic turnaround before next Thursday’s clash if they are to return to the winner’s list next week.

“It’s another short week and it’s a lot different because we’ll train there but we need to hit back hard,” he said.

“We’ll watch St Kilda tomorrow and bring that pressure that we know can bring, but 47 tackles, we know we need to get over 100 over even just double that to be any chance.”