SWANS swingman Ted Richards says his side hasto remedy its penchant for slow starts if it is to push for a top-four berth inthe run to September.

“For one reason or another, we haven’t hada great start for two weeks in a row now and it’s something we’ve got to fix,because you can’t be expected to overrun sides week after week,” Richards said.

The Swans afforded Hawthorn a three-goalhead start before outscoring it 10 goals to five after quarter time. Theyweren’t so lucky in recent weeks against Essendon and the Kangaroos aftersluggish openings.

Richards rated the Swans first half of theyear as “enormously inconsistent” and said basic skill errors were killing theside at certain times during games.

It was a sentiment echoed by coach PaulRoos who said the Swans’ skill level mirrored the players’ intensity.

“They (the players) are very honest andthey do usually give 100 per cent every week and when we’ve got our intensityup our ball use tends to get better,” Roos said.

Roos and Richards both rated the Swansseason’ to date as inconsistent but felt there was ample room for improvementin coming weeks.

Richards, who had 15 possessions, took 10marks and kicked a key goal late in the third term, praised the game of skipperBrett Kirk who he said “was unbelievable.”

Kirk had 25 touches, three hard-ball gets,laid 11 tackles and won six free kicks in an inspirational four-quarterdisplay.

“The way he goes about it is sensational,”Richards said.

“He just lifts you with the way he playsthe game, his approach to contests and his ferocious attack…if we are playinglike him then we’re pretty hard to beat.

“The other thing about him is that he doesit each week and there’s a lesson in that for everyone. The gap between hisbest and his worst isn’t great.”

With a week off courtesy of the split round,the Swans have 13 days to prepare for their Saturday night blockbuster againstCollingwood.

The fighting win over the Hawks was justthe tonic the side needed according to Richards.

“It’s great to be able to go into the breakwith a positive,” he said the of the Swans nine-point win.

“We’ve been a bit up and down but at 6-5 wecan have a week off and hopefully build some momentum in the remaining 11rounds.”

The Swans face a tough month of footballwith games against Geelong, Fremantle and Carlton following on fromthe monster game against the Pies.