Swans narrow focus as Bulldogs chew AFL finals hopes
Sydney coach Dean Cox concedes he can't look further than next week after the Swans were dealt a massive blow in their unlikely bid to gatecrash the AFL finals.
After a horror start to the year, Sydney had looked to have revived their season this month with consecutive wins and the return of guns Errol Gulden, Callum Mills and Tom Papley.
But the resurrection was brought to a halt in a 16.9 (105) to 14.12 (96) defeat to the Western Bulldogs at the SCG on Friday night.
It left last year's beaten grand finalists nursing a 6-9 record ahead of another difficult home assignment against top-eight side Fremantle in round 17.
"I can't look too far ahead at the moment," first-year coach Cox said.
"We've got Fremantle, who are another team like the Bulldogs.
"They've won five in a row ... they're playing some really good footy.
"So we'll make sure that we get as much as we can out of learning from this game and then our attention will go straight onto Fremantle to try to quell their influence and get the result we're after."
Set shot goal-kicking is bound to be on Cox's agenda after inaccuracy again plagued Sydney against the Bulldogs.
They kicked 4.10 from set shots to the Dogs' 8.5, which proved costly in a tight contest.
It came six days after the Swans posted a total of 9.17 (71) in a win over Port Adelaide.
"The last two weeks it's been an issue. It's something that we need to train," Cox said.
"We need to make sure that we're also having shots from decent spots on the ground to give ourselves the best chance to maximise that.
"But having said that, when we do get our chance, we need to take control and execute."
Sydney should regain Tom McCartin for the Fremantle clash, after the key defender was a late withdrawal against the Bulldogs through illness.
But there are concerns over Dane Rampe, who was subbed out with calf tightness, while Aaron Francis faces scrutiny over a swinging arm to Lachie Bramble's body.
There is also a watch on the SCG surface, which has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April.
Players repeatedly slipped over on the patchy surface at the Paddington end of the ground during the Swans-Dogs clash.
"There's been some challenges with the surface throughout the year, but I look in at other things," Cox said.
"That's where I spend my time, things that I can try and control."
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