Sydney’s key-forward mix has been questioned by two legendary forwards after Adelaide stymied the Swans on Friday night.

The hosts won three more inside-50s than the Crows but managed a score-per-inside-50 rate of just 36 per cent – their fifth-worst result under Dean Cox – in the 16-point loss.

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Sporting Charlie Curnow, Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean – who combined for a measly one goal – Sydney totalled just four marks inside 50 on a wet SCG.

And while conditions weren’t ideal, up the other end, Adelaide’s dominant duo of Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty teamed up for six goals and 10 marks without Taylor Walker.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Cox, probed on Curnow’s quiet night, hinted that it was incumbent on others as much as it was Curnow to deliver.

“He was one of a few that we need to try and make sure we … and to Charlie’s credit, he’s been as consistent as anyone,” Cox told reporters.

“Playing on some really good defenders, they got enormous heat on the ball, so the flow to be able to get really good looks wasn’t at the level.

“He has those nights. So, I know one thing – he’ll get to work as quickly as he possibly can and want to play as well as he can next week.”

Joel Amartey is likely another two months away with his Achilles injury.

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During Fox Footy’s post-game analysis, Geelong champion Tom Hawkins questioned whether Sydney’s current forward combination was at the requisite level.

“I don’t know if they’ve found the right mix in McDonald, Curnow and McLean,” he said.

“All granted that it’s probably not the best night for key forwards, but as Dean Cox said, down the other end of the ground, the others were able to kick straight.

“They wanted dry conditions – I think that’s going to be a challenge if they get wet weather over the finals series …

“They’d be disappointed tonight.”

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Triple Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt, meanwhile, called for the Swans to “change their mix”, going into the business end of the year.

“They’ve got to move some magnets around,” he said.

“We floated Isaac Heeney potentially playing more time forward pre-game … I think Heeney has to roll forward.

“I’d stick with McLean – I think he’s the one who gives you a better look in the ruck, as a second ruck behind Brodie Grundy.

“But at the moment, they need to find a running mate for Charlie Curnow … it’s a real worry there.

“They miss (Justin) McInerney in the middle – that would allow them to pull the Heeney trigger, I think, with a bit more confidence with their midfield.

“They have to change something up there, because it can’t just be the Curnow and Papley show every week; they need some running mates with them … you need to get better output from your key forwards.”

The loss to the Crows was the Swans’ fourth loss from six games against top-six opponents, as they prepare to face more questioning of their premiership credentials.

Asked specifically about his team’s recent inability to handle the opposition’s heat, Cox said: “We’ve got work to do. (That’s) as simple as I can be with that.

“All of us have to do it, and we need to do it pretty quickly.

“We’re under no illusion that it’s an area we need to work on, and we’ll get to work on that.”