‘‘It was our work when we didn’t have the footy and it started a little bit in the last seven minutes of the second quarter,’’ White said.

‘‘We came in and the effort was better and we got a couple of goals, (whereas) before that the Swans were in control.

‘‘We thought we played very well as a team after half-time and did a lot of hard things ... we ticked a lot of boxes we mentioned with work-rate and things we’re measuring.’’

The Tigers transformed in the second half a match being played on the Swans’ terms.

The pace was frenetic early, with the ball pinging from end to end. Rochester kicked the game’s first three goals, but the hosts responded with the next four.

There were 11 majors in total — six to the Swans — in a thrill-a-minute opening-quarter spectacle.

Dan Campbell (four inside-50 marks, two goal assists and one major) and Brodie A’Vard (six contested marks and two goals) were terrorising the Tigers.

Slippery Rochester spearhead Grant Weeks, opposed to Andrew Riordan, had three at the other end.

It wasn’t how the Tigers wanted the game to pan out, but it continued to.

The Swans shot 19 points clear midway through the term, after conceding that number before scoring in the first quarter, but the warning signs were about to begin.

Campbell missed three consecutive shots, one from barely 20m, and then, right on half-time, the Swans turned the ball over coming out of defence — when there were uncontested options aplenty nearby.

Brodie Montague found Weeks, who booted his fifth goal from right on the 50m arc.

That made the difference just 10 points at the main break. The game then changed in a hurry on resumption.

The clearances were level in the first term and 8-6 in the Swans’ favour in the second quarter.

No statistic illustrated Rochester’s sudden dominance more than its 16-5 obliteration of the Swans in that area in the third term.

Club debutant Daniel Anderson and James Brain were superb and Brady Green and Nick Knight were telling in support.

Luke Gestier (five majors) was just as damaging as Weeks.

Weeks’ seventh goal — he ended with eight — was the Tigers’ fifth of the quarter and third in as many minutes. Warburton’s men had just one in the same period.

Campbell hit back with his third goal just before the three-quarter time siren to cut Rochester’s lead to eight, but the Swans never led again.

The margin blew out to 22 before the Swans, knowing their season was on the line, lifted — although it proved far too late.

‘‘We carried too many in the second half ... there were six guys who didn’t do enough for the team and, in the end result, that’s what lost it for us,’’ Warburton said.

‘‘We were terribly beaten in the midfield. Our back half was all right.

‘‘I know Weeks kicked goals and Gestier kicked goals, but the way the footy was going in there, I thought ‘Riordo’ and ‘Tappy’ (Kyle Tapscott) did a good job.

‘‘Rochester battled harder and longer for one another ... we’re not far off, but what does that count for now? The last three weeks were disappointing. I find it hard to talk about.’’

Dan Lovick was clearly the Swans’ best player in a general-like display at half-back.

Quade Johnstone and Tyson Sidebottom were also good, while forwards Campbell and A’Vard were damaging.

The Swans lost Anthony Haysom (ankle) in the third term and captain Jessie Finnen (shoulder) could be in doubt for next week.