SWANS forward Ryan O'Keefe says the team hasn'tlost belief despite their loss to West Coast in Perth on the weekend.
“I think a lot of positives have come outof the loss, if there are positives out of a loss. Of course, you've always gotto believe. If you lose your belief then you might as well stop playing,” hesaid on Tuesday.
“We didn't play great football but we gotourselves off the canvas and to within 12 points. And if certain things hadgone our way, then who knows? It was another wake up call for us. West Coasthas a good midfield. We've got to take stock and learn from our mistakes.”
With such a close competition this year,O'Keefe believed a top four spot was still on the Swans' radar.
“You've got to aim higher. If we can get agood winning streak up, a top four is possible. We've got a reasonably good runhome and we’ve just got to make sure we win every game till the end of theseason.”
Despite the 12-point loss to West Coast, Sydney is still in eighth spot with 32 points going intothis Saturday's night's clash with bottom side Richmond at the SCG. The Tigers suffered a 55-pointmauling at the hands of Port Adelaide at the MCG last Sunday.
As for the loss of forward Barry Hall – whomissed last Saturday's match in Perth– O'Keefe said it was the responsibility of the entire squad to step up, “Idon't think it relies on one person.”
The big forward trained lightly at the SCGtoday, jogging around the ground while the rest of the group trained. O'Keefesaid he assumed Hall would play this Saturday night.
“We've got the players who can step up whenwe're missing players, but also it gives you confidence knowing that suchquality players will come back into the side,” added O'Keefe, who did anadmirable job as spearhead in place of Hall, bagging four goals against theEagles.
However O'Keefe acknowledged the Swans needto get on a winning streak now.
“I think it's time. The season's runningout and there aren't too many games to go. We definitely have to put our footdown and assert our authority for the rest of the year.
“For the rest of our games, each match iswinnable. If there is a slip up it could cost us our spot in the top four oreven the finals. We've got to make sure we come up every game.”
O'Keefe also responded to news that Swanscoach Paul Roos had been spoken of in relation to the Carlton position for 2008 and beyond followingthe departure of Denis Pagan.
“Paul's a great coach. We want him here,certainly as long as I'm playing here. You'd be mad not to want to poach him.Clubs want the best players, why not the best coaches? He's got the results onthe board and players seem to respond to the way he leads.”
