Sydney coach Dean Cox is licking his wounds after suffering a monster 90-point defeat in just his 12th game.
Cox took over a grand final side from John Longmire, but the Swans, who have dealt with injuries to key personnel, have failed to reach similar heights to 2024, slumping to 14th on the ladder.
The loss to Adelaide prompted an early beach session the following morning that was player-driven, while it also provided the Swans coach to take stock of where he's leading the club.
"I realised when I got in the position (that criticism would come) and I understand what a head coaching job entails - that if you're not performing well, that you're open to everything. That's the nature of the game, I understand that," Cox said on Thursday.
"One thing you have to do is stick to your process on how we go forward. When you're not going so great, that's the hardest thing to do, but you've got to realign yourselves with where you want to get to and stay on course."
The heavy defeat forced the Sydney coach to stop and reflect on his own performance.
"Whenever you're a coach, you worry when you perform like that. What could I have done differently? How's the messaging, how's the week, how's the prep that we put the players through, you're continually asking that whether you win or lose," Cox said.
"What you have to do as a senior coach is demand the highest of standards from the playing group and from everyone at the footy club. And that's from me as well. That's something we've spoken about and work on. We're not perfect at it, and we need to get close to that as soon as possible."
Questions over the structure of Sydney's coaching group have arisen due to the poor start, which is technically one man down.
When Longmire departed his post, and Cox replaced him, the Swans didn't fill the positions, ultimately stretching the cohort thinner.
However, the former championship ruckman said he didn't want to rock the boat and make major changes to the format.
"I think you're always looking to improve your program," Cox said.
"When the situation came at the back end of last year, I just wanted our coaches to coach. To own an area, to run a specific area of that, as well as a line. They've done that really well.
"Performances aren't showing that, but I've got a lot of confidence in this coaching group."
Ex-Giants coach and Sydney GM of Football Leon Cameron has provided a sounding board for Cox, but remains firmly in his current role.
In encouraging news, the club is hopeful that Errol Gulden and Tom Papley may return from their long injury lay-offs after the Swans' bye and in time for the Round 15 clash against Port Adelaide.
As for Saturday's clash against Richmond at the MCG, captain Callum Mills will be available after serving his one-match suspension, while Sam Wicks, Harry Cunningham and Aaron Francis are also expected to be ready to go.
However, Cox stopped at the axed Oliver Florent, who performed strongly after his demotion to the VFL.
Florent is expected to be in the mix, but his coach "wasn't sure" about his selection.
