IT MAY have been nine points in the wrongdirection, but the Hawks were buoyed by the difference at the final siren onSaturday in their narrow loss to the Swans.

The past four times the two sides have met,the Swans have run out victors by a combined total of 183 points. According toBrad Sewell, in comparison to games in recent years, nine points isn't all thatmuch.

"It tells us we're getting closer. Thelast few times we've played them, they've smashed us," Sewell told hawthornfc.com.au after the game.

"They've really had the wood over usin the past, and we're certainly making some inroads against those kinds of topsides."

It was also the second time this season theHawks have been one half of an extremely tight game of football, following theround eight clash with the Saints.

Sewell said his teammates will takeSaturday's loss as a lesson regarding their adaptability.

"It's not frustrating. It's beenproven over the years that pressure footy wins finals, and we have to be ableto play those types of games at the end of the year to be successful," hesaid.

"It's where we're at right now. Weshowed glimpses that we're not far away from it today. It was good."

He said it would be nice to play flowingfootball each week, but believes the Hawks really just need to learn how tostick to their game plan regardless of what the opposition does on the day.

"I guess [free-flowing] is more fun,but at the end of the day, we want to win games," he said.

"There are so many different styles ofgames out there, and we have to be prepared to play our game against all thosedifferent sides to be successful.

"What is the most successful for us iswhen we play our style, play our game, and come up against these sides whothrow these challenges at us and stick to our guns."

Sewell faced off with dual Brownlow medallistAdam Goodes on Saturday and kept the tall wingman to 22 possessions whilepicking up 26 of his own.

Alastair Clarkson heralded it as a solidperformance, but Sewell wasn't sure who won the battle. He was, however,positive it was a taxing one to engage in.

"I don't think I enjoyed running withhim. He's a jet," he said.

"He still had a fair bit of the ball,and at the end of the day, they got the four points and that's about it.

"The Swans play the game very well,and their record shows that. We'll learn from that game and hopefully come outa better side."