SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire said his side would focus on structure in the lead up to the AFL season proper after its surprise NAB Cup defeat at the hands of Gold Coast on Saturday night.

The Swans suffered a three-point loss to the Suns in humid conditions at Blacktown Olympic Park, with the sealer coming in the dying moments when Gold Coast midfielder Hayden Jolly kicked a 25m goal.

"I'm glad there was air-conditioning in the coaches box that's all I'm going to say," Longmire said after the Swans' two matches.

"There's no breeze; it's died down and they are hot conditions."

Gold Coast played an unexpectedly tight match against the Swans, with the match evenly poised for most of the night.

"I'm not surprised, the Suns have a good amount of senior players and that gives their young blokes some confidence," Longmire said.

"In different parts of the game some things were not quite right and there are some structural things for us to work on."

Longmire, in his first season as Swans coach, said although the NAB Cup was only a lead-up to the season proper he did not enjoy seeing his team lose.

"We don't go out there to deliberately lose," he said.

"It's disappointing, we had 20 inside-50s, there were chances and we didn't make the most of them."

While NRL recruit Karmichael Hunt did not look out of place for the Suns, Longmire said the former Brisbane Broncos full-back had not been on his radar.

"To be honest I was not paying any particular attention to him. I was too busy watching my own guys," he said.

The loss to the Suns came after the Swans dished out a 79-point drubbing to Greater Western Sydney in their first ever cross-town derby.

"It offered good playing time for our players; it was a different game against GWS and it was good for the young lads to get involved," Longmire said.

"I'm sure Kevin [Sheedy] and the club will take it as good experience and a fantastic learning curve."

The Swans fielded an experienced side for the two matches but Longmire said a number of senior players were still to return to the side.

"There were at least seven players out of our senior team tonight including Craig Bolton, Daniel Bradshaw and Shane Mumford," he said.

"Over the next couple of weeks we have to make sure to give our seniors enough game time and balance that out with our young kids."