Sydney coach John Longmire was full of praise for the way the Swans were able to cover for the loss of skipper Josh Kennedy in Sunday's nailbiting AFL win over North Melbourne.
After racking up 10 possessions in the opening term, Kennedy took no further part in the match after suffering painful back spasms.
With key defender Heath Grundy a late withdrawal and Jarrad McVeigh, Dan Hannebery and Kieren Jack also sidelined, the Swans were down more than 1000 games of experience.
But they still found a way to win 16.8 (104) to 15.8 (98), improving to fourth spot on the ladder with an 11-5 win-loss record ahead of Saturday's home clash against hapless Gold Coast.
"You've got to love that level of resilience," said Longmire.
"Our younger players showed it and our older players were able to step up.
"When things don't go your way during the course of the game and your captain goes off, we needed to find a way and we were able to find it."
Longmire was hopeful Kennedy would recover in time to take on the Suns at the SCG next weekend.
"He had a back spasm so it tightened up," said the coach.
"We're not sure how it will go going into a six-day break.
"But he's had it before so he's reasonably confident.
"He says it settles down after a few days so we'll have to wait and see."
