“We really want to get our supporters in behind it. They’re loving the competitive nature, they’re loving the tough stuff, the ability to chase down tackle, the ability to win one on one, and the contest. We value that really highly.”

The Swans lost no admirers in defeat but will rue a lack of polish under the sort of pressure Sydney sides of yesteryear used to apply to the opposition.

They were well below their best but showed character to keep the game alive to the final minute. Even at the death they had a chance to set up a grandstand finish but Callum Mills’ shot at goal slewed right.

“There was a lot of pressure on in slippery wet conditions,” Swans coach John Longmire said. “We won three quarters and the inside 50 count. They were more efficient going forward than we were.

“And they probably outscrambled us in the second quarter,” said Longmire.

The Swans dominated out of the centre square in the first term, kicking two in the opening minutes from having first use of the ball, but when the game was in the open it was the Demons who dictated proceedings.

For the best part of the next hour Melbourne, displaying the defensive organisation and cohesion teams in the red and the blue have not been renowned for, squeezed the Swans of space.

Sydney’s ball movement became stilted, not so the Dees, who were able to consistently make the Swans’ backs uncomfortable.

To the visitors’ credit, they held firm deep in defence, though Ben Brown’s height and mobility was proving a headache.

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In his second game for his new club, the former North Melbourne spearhead was the most influential forward in the first half with two goals.

At the other end Lance Franklin was well held by Steven May, who was able to match the champion forward for strength and mobility.

May did not have his customary influence on the rebound but it was a price worth paying, given the little impact Franklin was having. In fairness to Franklin, the Swans were not making life easy for their forwards.

The game swung further in the Dees’ favour after half-time. Their ability to weave through the Swans’ zone with quick forward handballs was unnerving from a red and white perspective.

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The Dees were on the verge of putting the game away after McDonald intercepted a handball in traffic and broke free to snap truly on his left but the Swans rallied.

Mills threw himself into the fray, Chad Warner won some key balls, and suddenly there was more dare and verve in the Swans’ play.

Three goals in a hurry either side of three-quarter-time brought the margin to less than a kick. Each time the Swans challenged, the Dees responded.