Sydney Swans midfielder Chad Warner spoke to the media today ahead of Sydney’s Round 13 clash with St Kilda at the SCG on Sunday.

On the main takeaway from Saturday's match

"I think we just got back to everyone playing their role correctly, getting the right spots, our structure was a lot better. That's probably what was lacking probably the last month, was our defence and the way we helped each other out. So I think that was really positive. I think when I talk about the roles and structures, that's something you can do against any team. No matter where they are on the ladder, how they're going. And I think that was the most impressive part is the spots we kind of put ourselves in and the opportunities we actually gave ourselves to execute our plan. And that's hopefully what we're going to do this week as well."

On his own performance

"I think probably a couple of games before that probably wasn't as good as I would have liked. So yeah, it was nice to bounce back. I think the way I did it, I was pretty much the same, just wanting to help my teammates out. And I think if I get back to that, that's how I do it best."

On wanting to bounce back after the loss to Geelong

"I think most players at this team and in the AFL are pretty similar. Everyone's here for a reason and they want to get better. They always want to compete. And that's the thing I love about footy too. You always get to have a new opportunity each week to better yourself, to better the performance you did the week before. And I think I learned a lot on focus points. So it's great to hopefully bring that for the rest of the season."

On learning from losses

"I think coming off of a loss, you obviously learn a lot. The Hawthorn one, I think was the first one. And then Geelong, they were probably similar. We were both in both of those games. Our defence wasn't up to scratch and the way we were getting back to support our defenders to start our offence wasn't there. And I think hopefully we can use those to look to the future and kind of head towards the end of the year and hopefully we won't slip up again. But as you said, every single one was a learning opportunity anyway."

On the four talls in the forward-line

"Yeah, it's great. I think having them up there and creating such a presence is great. I think it gives you a good bailout if you need to. Sometimes you can't always lace someone out. So it's great to know the options there and they provide a great contest. All four of them do. You saw on the weekend the amount of pressure Joel can bring for a big man. It's insane. So every single one of them kind of played a great role in every different aspect of the game."

On Hayden McLean

"He's one who hasn't missed a beat. All pre-season, all season as well. I think it's been pretty tough for him, as you can imagine, sitting on the sidelines. Then he came in, played really well and then had to miss out again. Obviously got his opportunity on the weekend. But I think it's massive credit to him not letting his head drop. All the VFL boys, to be honest, are performing very well and could step in any minute."

On keeping morale up for players who miss out on selection

"I think it's really, really tough, obviously, for them. I think as a playing group, you just have to keep on rewarding what they're doing. Especially the boys who aren't playing, rewarding exactly the right stuff they're doing. I guess telling them just how close they are as well. I think showing what Hayden and what Pistol (Peter Ladhams) can do just goes to show if anyone comes into the team, if you grab your opportunity like that, that's the impact you can have."

On players returning from injury

"Yeah, it's going to Coxy a few headaches, I think. But as you see on teams in the past, I think that's the stuff that you want. You want the VFL boys underneath really pressing for spots. I think it keeps us honest, but it also gives you the chance to play them when you need to. Like you said, rest players if we need. I think that's probably the thing we struggled with last year, not being able to manage players as best as we can. With injuries, we didn't have enough ready to go. But then this year, I think having that flexibility is so good for players like Millsy, Grunds on the weekend as well."

On feeling like he belongs at Sydney

"Yeah, I think it does. Having the boys that have created a relationship for ages is probably the number one thing.  It's only getting stronger with them, to be honest. I absolutely love coming in every day and I love the morale that we have. Like you said, having a good result each week and winning definitely helps a lot. To be honest, I've actually never felt more settled here."

On what's driving the team

"I think it's (premiership success) is definitely our biggest driver of the season, as it probably would be for a lot of teams. But I think more so for us, considering you've been there a couple of times. If anything, I think it's great to just have experienced it. I'd say if you can make it and get it done at the end of the year, which is such a tough thing to do, it could make it just that little bit sweeter after the last couple. But we've got a long way to go and I think we've got a lot of improvement to make before that. So I'm just loving every day as it comes."

On a few slow starts

"I think the one thing with that is that teams coming up against the players now are always going to be rearing to go and trying to do everything they can to stop our ball movement or our defence, whatever our strengths are. And they're always going to be coming out with their best foot forward. So I think that's one thing that we kind of really need to work on, is knowing exactly what they want to bring to us from the first bounce and nullifying that. But I think after those slow starts, it was really credit to the boys to be able to fight it back anyway."