SYDNEY Swans development coach Stuart Dew expects his young players to come out firing in the reserves after a rare public bake from senior coach Paul Roos.

Roos said on Thursday that he was frustrated by the failure of some of his youngsters to press their claims for a senior berth after the Swans suffered successive heavy losses to Melbourne and Geelong.

Dew, who assists reserves coach Daniel McPherson on match day, said a season-best effort against Queanbeyan on Saturday was the best way for the players to respond.

"We'd like to think they react with a fantastic performance," he said.

"Often coaches try to get their messages across a little bit differently. They might try one way and it doesn't work, so they might try another way. I guess it's just another way of trying to get them going and to see how many opportunities are there."

Dew said there were several times in his 180-game career with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn that he felt he had been targeted by a public comment from coaches Mark Williams and Alastair Clarkson.

"It might be only meant for two or three players but you've probably got 10 or 15 blokes thinking 'Is that about me?'" he said with a laugh.

"There have been times when you might think you're going OK and then you read something like that and think, 'Oh, is that about me?'

"But it's definitely not one you go and ask about. You just get out there the next week and put in a good performance so you can tick your name off."

One of the young Swans to have ticked every box on a regular basis is rookie Nathan Gordon, who earned promotion to the senior list this week.

"He's just got himself elevated due a couple of simple things: his work rate and his willingness to compete," Dew said.

"He's hard at the ball, he'll put his head over the ball. Every week, we just say, 'Nipper's done it again' and sooner or later, you can't ignore those kind of guys."

With the majority of the season played out, Dew said he was thoroughly enjoying his new role on the other side of the player-coach divide.

A greater appreciation for the complexity of a football club's operations and improved man-management skills are among the knowledge gleaned as a development coach.

"It's been interesting trying to find out how to work with each individual - everyone's different - and how best to give the feedback to each player," he said.

"You can't give the same message in the same style with each player. I think just trying to find out what makes the players tick and how to help them get the best out of themselves; that's been the most exciting thing."

He marvelled at the achievements of Lewis Jetta, Gary Rohan and Trent Dennis-Lane to have played senior footy at a club that has traditionally been reluctant to expose draftees to the top level in their first years.

And he spoke glowingly of Dan Hannebery's ability to drive himself to play such a high standard of football for a young player in what is effectively his first full year at an AFL club.

Looking towards the Swans' crucial clash against Hawthorn at the SCG on Saturday, Dew said his inside knowledge of the Hawks' game plan was "a little bit" useful for his new club's match-day planning.

"They've changed their game a fair bit since I've been there. Like any team, it's almost from year to year that you evolve into a different side," he said.

"Looking at their team now, there are a lot of guys who weren't there when I was there. It's very much like when I left Port and was playing at Hawthorn, there wasn't too much that I could tell them that would help get them over the line.

"At the end of the day, it's whether you want to compete at the level. If our guys compete well and play to their strengths, we're a fair chance."