Every Sydney player needs a "kick up the backside", according to Swans defender Marty Mattner, following their shock 43-point AFL loss to lowly Richmond.

The Tigers' victory on Sunday snapped a six-game losing streak and seriously dented Sydney's finals aspirations.

The Swans could have secured sixth place on the ladder and a home elimination final with a win, but now remain in eighth spot and in grave danger of dropping further.

"That was probably our most disappointing game for the year," Mattner said on Monday.

"Looking at where we were, probably looking at fifth or sixth spot even and a home final, and to lose like that is pretty disappointing.

"It just came down to the effort, the effort just wasn't there."

Sydney went into quarter-time in front and with more scoring shots and, despite starting the last quarter 19 points behind Richmond, were still in the game.

But, as was the case against Essendon a week earlier, the Swans again folded.

"We were still in the game at half time, even three-quarter time we were 19 points down," Mattner said.

"So to be blown out of the water like that by Richmond, who don't really have finals aspirations, not like us ... that is just not good enough.

"Everyone needs a kick up the backside.

"Everyone's got to sit back and look at themselves a bit and as a team we need to look at ourselves as well."

The Swans now face a tough road ahead, with a home match against St Kilda and what looms as mission impossible against second-placed Geelong at Skilled Stadium to come, before a clash with Brisbane at the SCG.

Mattner feels presenting a united front is key for their finals chances.

"As a group we just need to stick together, that's probably the main thing. There can't be any fractures in the team," he said.

"Everyone is still pretty upbeat, it's just that we haven't played very well the last two weeks and we've probably cost ourselves a great opportunity.

"That's probably the most disappointing thing about the whole thing. We set ourselves up in the first half of the year and the last two or three weeks we haven't been good enough."

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