SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos says his side will have to improve “a fair bit” to challenge Geelong at Skilled Stadium next weekend, after watching his players hold off a gutsy Richmond by 19 points at the SCG.

The Tigers had a chance to draw level in the final term but a desperate Marty Mattner tackle prevented Jack Riewoldt from kicking a likely goal.

The Swans were never headed after that, booting two of the last three goals to claim their third win of the season and move into the top eight.

“[Geelong] are 10 or 15 per cent better than any team in the competition at the moment and down there, they’re probably 25 per cent better,” Roos said.

“It’s a good experience for our young guys… for them to test themselves against the absolute best.”

Roos said Mattner’s late diving tackle against the Tigers encapsulated the importance of taking every opportunity.

“I was concerned when [Riewoldt] was running into an open goal but then super Marty came out of the grandstand and tackled him,” he said with a laugh.

“In the first quarter, we probably should have been another three goals up – we had eleven scoring shots – but that’s just the way footy is. You’ve got to take your chances.

“It was great to pick ourselves up. You know with the competition the way it is, how even it is, you can’t expect to be dominant for four quarters unless you have a real day out.”

Roos said the Swans’ defence was the cornerstone of the win, built on strong performances by Mattner, Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Ted Richards.
The return of Michael O’Loughlin and Barry Hall, who finished with two goals each, also boosted the home side’s stocks.

“Mick looked really lively. He wanted to make an impact and he certainly made an impact,” Roos said.

“It helps Ryan O’Keefe and it helps Jarred Moore and it helps Brett Meredith, so we certainly looked a lot more dangerous when we went forward.”

And the Swans coach was full of praise for Canadian Mike Pyke, who showed some promising signs in his first game.

“I thought he was terrific. We didn’t expect the world of him but we got what we wanted. He can get his hand on the ball, he’s a competent ruckman,” Roos said.

“He’s starting to understand and you can see a little bit of composure that we didn’t see pre-season. I thought his first half was very, very good and he was solid in the second half.

“If he keeps improving, hopefully he’s got a long career in AFL footy ahead of him.”