Midfielder Jordan Foote hopes Sunday's narrow loss to GWS has "slapped" out any complacency which may have crept in during the NEAFL Swans' unrivaled start to the season.
Despite sitting undefeated and two games clear on top of the ladder, the NEAFL Swans proved not even the best side is comfortable after going to a resilient Giants outfit in a see-sawing affair at Spotless Stadium.
Only one point split the two sides at the final siren, the visitors overrun in the fourth quarter with final scores reading 16.13 (109) to 16.12 (108).
Foote, who starred with 21 disposals and two goals, found some solace in the result despite it being the circuit-breaker to the Swans' untarnished season.
"I look at it as a slap in the face (we) almost needed," he said.
"We just need to make sure we don't get complacent.
"This will make sure we get back to basics, work on what we need to work on and do what we have to do (to get back on the winner's list)."
Sydney led by as much as 26 points in the second quarter but the hosts just kept plugging away, eventually hitting the lead in the fourth quarter and sticking with the ladder leaders before edging away in the dying minutes.
A goal from forward Sam Murray would be the last of the game as the Swans' nine-game winning streak came to an end.
"There were a few things that didn’t quite go our way in the last five minutes," Foote added.
"Their runners were getting outside and cutting us up with overlap handballs and inside 50s. That wasn’t great.
"We knew that they’d be good on the overlap and didn’t quite full advantage of what we knew."
Foote and Brandon Jack (29 disposals, six tackles, 10 clearances and a goal) were standouts through the midfield as was Dean Towers (18 disposals, seven clearances, five inside 50s) before his afternoon ended at half-time due to his commitments as senior emergency.
Aliir Aliir (19 disposals, five marks and eight rebounds) was a pillar in defence while Nic Newman (31 disposals, eight tackles, eight inside 50s, six rebound 50s) provided plenty of drive from half-back.
The NEAFL Swans take on Aspley in another AFL curtain-raiser in what is the last match before the welcomed bye. It's a big one too, given the Hornets sit equal second on the ladder with a 7-3 record.
"We really want to win this one," Foote said.
GIANTS 4.3 7.5 12.8 16.13 (109)
SYDNEY 4.3 10.6 13.9 16.12 (108)
GOALS – Giants: M Flynn, M Kennedy 3 J Stewart, R Palmer 2, J Barrett, D Roberts, T Downie, J Steele, J Finlayson, A Tomlinson. Sydney: T Leonardis 3, S Reid, J Foote, M Wilson, S Naismith 2, S Murray, B Jack, J Hiscox, J Dawson, K Galloway.
BEST – Giants: H Himmelberg, R Palmer, J Barrett, M Kennedy, A Tomlinson, J Steele. Sydney: J Foote, A Davis, A Aliir, D Towers, C O’Riordan, R Hebron.
