The suggestion Sydney were a rabble against Adelaide wasn't far from the truth, concedes defender Dane Rampe.
But now it's up to the Swans to front up against Richmond.
The 14th-placed Swans (4-8) are reeling from a 90-point humiliation against Adelaide at the SCG.
Adelaide defender Wayne Milera caused a stir when he noted in a post-game ABC radio interview Sydney had appeared a "bit of a rabble" - comments for which he and the Crows later apologised.
"We haven't really spoken about it much, to be honest," Rampe said.
"I don't want to do a comment on his comments, but it wasn't too far from the truth, was it?
"We've got our own things to worry about, other than Wayne Milera's comments after the game, so we're just worried about what we can control."
Rampe insisted players on the ground weren't confused but had shown "a bit of frustration" at their situation.
Just hours after the match, Swans players were called to a pre-dawn beach session organised by their leadership group.
Sydney, still without stars Tom Papley (heel) and Errol Gulden (ankle), have focused on actions over words this week as they attempt to bounce back.
"What's changed is probably just there's been a lot less talking," Rampe said.
"To be honest, there's been a lot of talking in the weeks leading up to last week, so I guess now it's just about going out and doing it.
"And you can talk and problem-solve your way out of as many things you like, but at the end of the day you've just got to come to play, come to compete, and that's not what what we've been doing."
Coach Dean Cox slammed the performance against Adelaide as "unacceptable and embarrassing".
The first-year coach made five changes for Saturday's match, including welcoming back skipper Callum Mills from suspension.
"We're really feeling for Coxy. As players, we feel like we've let him down," Rampe said.
"It's probably hard to see this now, but he's been nothing short of exceptional coming in. We're really loving what we're seeing from him.
"Now it's on us as players to kind of row the boat for him and show what he means to us, and just give him something that's a little bit of reward for what he deserves."
Elsewhere, Swans chief executive Tom Harley is expected to be appointed chief operating officer at the AFL.
"Bittersweet would be the word," Rampe said.
"He's been an incredible mentor for a lot of us, and senior figure, leader of our club for a long time.
"Professionally I'd probably be pretty upset if he left, but I guess as a friend, he's a mentor of mine and I'd be rapt for him.
"There couldn't be anyone better for the job."
Richmond will regain Noah Balta from his court-imposed curfew, with the key back replacing Campbell Gray.
