Dejected Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy concedes Saturday's 22-point loss to the Western Bulldogs was more painful than the flogging Sydney copped at the hands of Hawthorn two years ago.
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On that occasion the final margin was 63 and the game effectively over by halftime, but the Swans trailed by a solitary point midway through the last quarter this time around before finally succumbing to an irresistible wave of Bulldogs momentum which netted the last three goals of the game.
Kennedy was gallant in defeat, only narrowly missing Norm Smith honours to Jason Johannisen. The Swan kicked three goals, gathered 34 possessions and had five clearances, two of which came in a bullocking second quarter where Sydney looked to have wrestled control of the contest.
But the Bulldogs kept coming like they've done all season, and Sydney eventually wilted in front of a jubilant MCG crowd, the final margin not quite reflecting how even the first three and a half quarters had been.
"The feeling's probably worse because of that fact to be honest, straight after the game," Kennedy said of the tight loss.
"It probably hurt a little bit more because I felt that we had a chance, we were having a crack and at critical moments in the game they stood up and we didn't."
"They were just a bit more consistent over the four quarters, a real team effort, an even contribution across the board.
"They had a pretty big statement to make. It certainly was a hard-fought game. Every possession was certainly well earned from both sides I thought. They just got on top of us in that area, contested [ball]."
The Swans' afternoon began poorly when Lance Franklin was forced from the field briefly after rolling his ankle.
He was taken down to the change rooms and examined before making a swift return, although the damage to his ankle curbed his usual significant influence on the contest.
"Buddy always tries his absolute hardest and doesn't leave anything out there," Kennedy said.
"You know what you're going to get from him in that regard. I'm not too sure, I think he really had a crack and I'm happy for that."
Sydney also lost Dan Hannebery midway through the fourth quarter with a knee injury, after the hard-nosed midfielder charged into a contest.
"To be honest I didn't realise but it definitely would've hurt, he's obviously an amazing runner and his inside contested footy's elite too," Kennedy said.
"It certainly would've dented our chances at the time."
Kennedy was clearly the Swans best player, well assisted at the contest by co-captain Kieren Jack.
They constantly went hard at the Sherrin, but were the Swans were outworked by a Bulldogs side that simply never stopped running.
Kennedy's inspirational second quarter led to four-straight Swans goals in their best run of the game, but Sydney could never manage to get much more than a goal ahead.
"We were hurt too much on the turnovers and probably a little bit conservative with our ball movement," Kennedy said.
"They had a much more even contribution across the board."
