Sydney Swans midfielder Callum Mills has implored Sydney to fight pressure with pressure this week, as the side prepares to face Geelong at the SCG in Round 7.
The Swans earned widespread admiration for their potency during a 4-0 start to the season, which included a 45-point victory over reigning premiers Richmond.
The Swans have faced back to back defeats after going down to GWS and the Gold Coast over the past fortnight.
"That's what happens. We were obviously performing quite well and people take a close look at you, want to knock you off," in-form midfielder Mills said on the eve of Saturday's SCG clash with Geelong.
"People have been doing that to Richmond for four years now. They've had a really good ability to match it and go again.
"That's something we're striving to do with a young team.
"We played some bloody good football ... we've got proof of what we can do and everyone believes it."
The Swans won the contested-ball count in the opening four rounds then trailed, both on the final scoreboard and in that key statistic, during their next two matches.
Mills, who has made a productive shift to the middle in 2021, says it is up to the on-ball brigade to set the tone and create a platform for better ball movement.
"Teams have come with a lot more pressure in the last few weeks, they've really hunted us and got after us with pressure," the QBE Sydney Swans Academy product said.
"It gets back to winning the ball or if they win it then putting extreme pressure on ... most things really flow on from that."
That includes ruining and restricting Geelong's entries to power forwards Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
"As many players as we can get rowing the boat, that'll help," Mills said.
"Geelong have got a lot of depth in their midfield. They're extremely damaging, so we're going to have to be at our best.
"Our effort wasn't up to scratch against the Suns.
"The reality is you have down weeks and up weeks, but the better teams have fewer down weeks and always respond."
The Swans return to the SCG this Saturday night when they face Geelong. Get your Round 7 tickets here and Be There LIVE.
