As the dust settles on an entertaining opening round, preparation for the Swans’ second round clash with Port Adelaide are in full swing.
Swans coach John Longmire, heart still racing after Saturday night thriller at ANZ Stadium, used the opportunity to recover by watching the Power’s see-sawing affair with Fremantle.
The Power produced a gallant performance against the Dockers at Domain Stadium in Perth but just fell short, in a match described by some as having "all the hallmarks of a cut-throat final”.
Longmire shared a similar view and was enlightened to see such a hotly-contested round one fixture.
“It was high pressure game, they’re two terrific teams and they were going flat out,” he said.
“You don’t often see a game played at that intensity so early in the season and maintained for so long in the game by two teams that are extremely talented and extremely hard at the footy.”
The Swans coach will no doubt prepare the playing group for the same heat. Much of what the Power are expected to dish out on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, the Swans copped for at least three quarter against a fired up Bombers three days ago.
Longmire believes with a benchmark set and the group’s ability to absorb and then eventually respond should hold the team in good stead against the Power.
“Essendon were terrific and fierce. We were able to change the momentum but didn’t get the reward,” he said.
“It’s still a tough game to win, AFL football. If you can come out in the last quarter and do what we were able to do and win, it shows we were able to find a way which has got to be a positive.
“We know what we’re up against this week; we’re up against Port Adelaide coming back from that narrow loss.
“To play a talented team on their home deck is not an easy task but we look forward to the challenge of going over to the Adelaide Oval in front of a packed crowd trying to be as competitive as we can making sure we do the things we want to do.”
The Swans played Port Adelaide twice last season, winning on both occasions including a dominant 26-point win at the same venue in Round 20.
