The Swans have been in crisis mode since five players - Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice - were suspended for the rest of the AFL season for breaching club standards.
Separately, a police investigation into sexual assault allegations related to what allegedly took place in a Melbourne hotel room last week is ongoing.
No charges have been laid by police and AAP is not suggesting any criminal wrongdoing.
Fans have come out in force to support Sydney's AFLW team since the allegations surfaced, with a crowd of 16,672 turning up to watch them beat Essendon by 24 points at the SCG in Sunday's double-header.
It more than doubled Sydney's previous highest crowd for a home AFLW game.
In contrast, the men's team recorded its lowest SCG crowd of the season - just 30,058 fans watched them beat North Melbourne.
O'Riordan praised the way his players had handled - and continue to handle - the emotion surrounding the ongoing crisis.
"I think the best way anyone connects with anyone is being vulnerable and being honest," O'Riordan said on Thursday ahead of Saturday's clash with St Kilda in Coffs Harbour.
"As a group, we were really vulnerable with each other. We had some conversations together where we probably dropped the body armour a little bit.
"I think as humans everyone thinks you're 10-foot tall and bulletproof all the time and nothing affects you.
"But it affected a lot of people in a lot of different ways. So I think just acknowledging that, accepting it, and then trying to help each other (was crucial)."
Former Swans star Lance Franklin said his thoughts are with the alleged victim in his first public comments about the drama surrounding the club.
"What a sad time for the footy club. An absolute disaster for them at this stage," Franklin told The Buddy and Shane Show.
"I know it's separate to what's happening, and footy is secondary to what took place, but all I can say is their performance on the weekend and the way they galvanised showed the club is very united.
"But our thoughts are with the alleged victim here."
Before Sunday's AFLW match, Sydney captain Callum Mills and star midfielder Errol Gulden made their way over to the women's team to show their support.
"I know that the majority of the boys have our backs, and that's what the girls see, and that's what they love and they cherish as a club," O'Riordan said.
"We're really united on this and the boys are a testament to that too."
O'Riordan spoke about the ongoing challenges of the situation, but says the support of the fans and the tight connection within the team have helped the players through it.
"I think football and life can overlap a little bit in that sense and we just wanted to be the beacon of hope for everyone," O'Riordan said.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
