Bombers coach James Hird said his side allowed the Swans back in because they tired, which might have been an affect of missing last weekend’s game.

“It probably had something to do with it. That was for at least half our team their first proper hit-out,” Hird said.

He said Dempsey had returned from his injury a more mature player and likewise Ryder was maturing.

“He’s decided ‘This is my time and I’m going to take it on,’ he’s another one that has matured greatly,” Hird said.

Swans coach John Longmire said Sydney’s performance was patchy.

But he expected more from a full-strength team next weekend, ahead of their season-opener against Greater Western Sydney on March 24.

Ben McGlynn, Ted Richards, Martin Mattner, Daniel Hannebery and Ryan O’Keefe should all return.

“That’s what we’re looking forward to next week, even though we were pretty close tonight, we were still missing five out of our starting 18, I guess,” Longmire said.

Kieren Jack received a knock to the shin on Friday night, but Longmire said he was not badly hurt.