Sydney co-captain Adam Goodes said the Swans need to quickly rediscover their discipline if they're to stop their current form slump and secure a spot in the AFL finals.
Contenders for a top four spot five weeks ago, the Swans are now in danger of dropping out of the top eight ahead of this weekend's vital clash with the Western Bulldogs at the SCG.
Sunday's 11-point loss to Fremantle was the club's fourth defeat in their last five matches which leaves them clinging to the last spot in the top eight.
But it was the manner of the loss to the Dockers that was of biggest concern to Goodes, who admitted their opponents 'got under the skin' of his Swans team-mates in a fiery encounter which included a number of melees and 50m penalties.
The dual Brownlow medallist said his side's ill-discipline cost them victory and would have to be addressed before they fall further down the ladder.
"It's a funny one, I've never seen so many 50m penalties in a game," Goodes said following a recovery session at Bondi Beach on Monday.
"I've never seen those little scuffles as well, we've never really been drawn into those in the past from my memory. It's definitely something we have to address."
"The discipline on the weekend was unacceptable and we have to take responsibility for that and in the end it's free-kick goals that cost us the game."
"I think they kicked six or seven. You cut those out, make it a bit harder for the opposition to score, you still have that run in the last quarter, you never know which way the game could go."
The Swans' cause against the Dockers' wasn't helped by a number of questionable calls from the umpires which led directly to Fremantle goals.
Goodes was seen during the match questioning the umpires over a number of decisions that went against his side, although he wasn't using it as an excuse for the loss, saying he's more concerned with fixing the areas his team can control.
"The things we'll be focusing on is why did we let them kick six goals in 14 minutes towards the end of the third quarter?" Goodes said.
"Plus just our energy levels in the first half."
"They're the things that we need to address for us to bounce back on a six-day break against a team that's looking to do the same."
Asked if it was the Swans' season is on the line this weekend with a host of clubs closing in on their spot in the finals, Goodes said: "Going into the bye we just really need to get a victory, get the four points, get some confidence back."
"We've lost four of the last five, we've got a young playing group; we just need that confidence back of winning a game of footy, on our home turf as well."