Leon Cameron says Saturday's crushing loss to the Sydney Swans was reminiscent of the GIANTS of old.
 
The AFL's newest club had a lot to play for coming into the match, given the potential to make the finals for the first time was still alive with three rounds left.
 
Unfortunately for GIANTS supporters, the players failed to offer much resistance to the Swans' relentless pressure during the 89-point thrashing at Spotless Stadium.
 
"We've taken huge steps forward this year and I'm realistic to know that's been really good, but we took about three or four steps back today," Cameron told reporters after the match.
 
"I think it was back to a few years ago.
 
"We know we have got some talent on our list, every side has got talent on the list, but if you don't bring that fanatic work rate, especially when the opposition have got the footy, then it doesn't matter how much talent you've got on your list."
 
The eventual winning margin was the Swans' third biggest victory over their cross-town rivals, eclipsed only by the 129-point result in 2013 and 94-points in the GIANTS’ 2012 debut year.
 
GWS has won just one of the previous eight meetings between the two sides, and has now lost four of its past five games this season.
 
Cameron said the performance dished up on Saturday showed the club was clearly not good enough to make the finals.
 
"You've got one side that's competitive and one side that's not competitive," Cameron said.
 
"You can use any excuse in the book, but the facts are when 44 ran out on the ground today 22 turned up and 22 thought it was too hard."
 
The coach said only a handful of players played their role against the Swans, mentioning Caleb Marchbank's duel with Sam Reid, Heath Shaw's work in the backline and Tommy Bugg's efforts to curb the influence of Dan Hannebery, as well as Zac Williams and Nathan Wilson's games.
 
"I think the players themselves are just genuinely disappointed in what they have produced today because they know they are better than that. We know we are better than that," Cameron said.
 
"We might not be in the same league as the Swans yet in terms of weekly rocking up and competing and winning more games than you lose, but we are far better than that.
 
"We've let ourselves down today and we've let our supporters down."