DESPITE surrendering top spot to Hawthorn on Saturday, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says the seven-point loss proves his side can match it with the League's top teams.

The Swans were 38 points ahead midway through the second term, and led by five points with 70 seconds to play when Ryan O'Keefe kicked truly from the forward pocket, but were unable to overcome a determined Hawthorn.

"We are disappointed we didn't get the win, we can do some things better but we played against an extremely talented team tonight and we had a real crack," Longmire told reporters after the match.

"Our players take enormous confidence out of being competitive and I think our players have improved a lot and I think that's the way we'd look at it.

"There's not much in it in the top group of teams, it is very, very close."

It was a similar story a fortnight ago, when the Swans led Collingwood by 17 points midway through the third term but fell eight points short.

The Swans need to beat Geelong next week to ensure a top-two finish and a home game in the first week of finals.

Swan Ryan O'Keefe said that the ferocious, finals-like contest against the Hawks was ideal as both teams prepared for September.

"A lot of guys that probably haven't played a lot of finals, it just gives them that experience, that taste, so that when it comes to the crunch it is not a huge jump in intensity," O'Keefe said.

Meanwhile, Longmire said veteran midfielder Jude Bolton was a "big chance" to return to the side for next weekend's clash with the Cats.

"He was bouncing around today, he had a really hard training session and his movement was terrific," Longmire said.

"He needs to be able to train this week under a bit more intensity with a few more players around him."

Bolton injured his knee against Carlton in Round 19.