SYDNEY’S unlikely season rescue got back on track in a big way at the SCG on Thursday night with the fiercely determined Swans producing a convincing 46-point belting of a listless Western Bulldogs.

Only inaccuracy in front of goal threatened to derail Sydney, who led for virtually the entire match against a Bulldogs side that has now lost all four of its clashes interstate in 2017.

Full match coverage and stats

Travis Cloke and Matthew Boyd headlined four inclusions for the premiers, but they were soundly beaten in all departments by the Swans, who have now won four of their past five matches after a disastrous start to the season.

The Swans restricted the Bulldogs to a total of 6.6 (42) - their lowest score under coach Luke Beveridge and their lowest total since round four, 2013 - while booting 12.16 (88).

"It's always good to win like that," John Longmire said of the dominant performance.

"But we spent three weeks there where we were feeling pretty good about things and took the foot off the pedal for a half against Hawthorn, and got what we deserved.

"Pressure on the opposition, no matter who you play, if it's consistent, will always make a difference.

"It's a pretty simple blueprint, so we can feel good about ourselves and think we played well tonight, but if you take the foot off at any time you leave yourself vulnerable."

Both sides were coming off a bye, however the Swans took little time to find their aggression, targetting Bulldog playmaker Jason Johanissen from the first bounce.

George Hewett must have set some sort of record for bumps on a player in a ferocious blanketing role of Johannissen. Small forward Tom Papley and half-forward Isaac Heeney were also among the Swans' best in the greasy conditions, and Josh Kennedy played a strong captain's knock with a game-high 37 disposals.

Lance Franklin kicked 3.5, but his goals, including one after the half-time siren, came at important moments. He was ably assisted by Sam Reid, who kicked two goals along with Papley.

The Sydney midfield enjoyed a feast at the stoppages with ruckmen Sam Naismith and Callum Sinclair dominating hit-outs 65-16.

For the Bulldogs, there was little to celebrate, especially after they fell away badly in the final term, scoring just three points to the Swans' 20.

"Sydney were pretty good, but we obviously didn't play well, so it was a combination of the Swans bringing an intensity and aggression that we couldn't match tonight," Beveridge said after the match.  

"Whether you call that flat, I'm not sure, but it was a disappointing night.  

"We're struggling our way through the season. Week to week, we're looking for our best … but tonight we absolutely weren't anywhere near where we needed to be. The Sydney midfield took control of the game and we couldn’t find our way back."

Five talking points: Sydney v Western Bulldogs

Caleb Daniel, with 28 possessions, was busy, while Jack Macrae had a team-high 32 disposals.

The Swans' hardness at the ball was key to their first-half success in which they extended a slender quarter-time lead into a valuable buffer, 5.8.(38) to 2.3.(15), at half-time.

A misguided chip by Daniel inside his defensive 50, which was marked and potted from beyond the arc by Franklin, proved the telling moment of a tight and tough first quarter, in which Sydney edged ahead by a goal.

The Bulldogs' return of 2.3 for the first half was their lowest against the Swans since 1970, but they added four goals in a sapping third quarter.

Goals to Jake Stringer and Tory Dickson were bookended by a pair to Reid, which kept Sydney 25 points ahead, before Sydney skipper Josh Kennedy added another.

The inside-50 count remained lopsided Sydney's way, and despite Easton Wood and Luke Dahlhaus adding majors for the Bulldogs nearing three-quarter time, Papley's second goal late in the period gave the Swans a seemingly safe 29-point advantage at the last change.

Goals to Luke Parker, Hewett and Jake Lloyd in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter sealed the deal for the home side.

MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: Sam Reid was bandaged around the head early in the second quarter after being sent off for the blood rule but soon returned to the action. Dan Hannebery left the ground early in the fourth quarter after being blindsided in a contest with Easton Wood, leading to checks on his ribs. John Longmire said Kieren Jack "dislocated a couple of fingers" in the last quarter, but the veteran isn't expected to miss any match time.

Western Bulldogs: Luke Dahlhaus suffered a split to the right side of his head after copping a knee from Josh Kennedy. He didn't have to undergo a concussion test and returned to the ground. Marcus Adams has a mid-foot injury and will undergo scans. It’s the opposite foot to the one he hurt last year.

NEXT UP
The Swans take on Richmond in Melbourne next Saturday after the Tigers take stock with a bye this weekend. The Bulldogs have until next Sunday to work out their problems before hosting Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

SYDNEY                           2.2   5.8   9.14   12.16    (88)
WESTERN BULLDOGS   1.2   2.3    6.3      6.6      (42) 

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 3, Reid 2, Papley 2, Hannebery, Kennedy, Parker, Hewett, Lloyd
Western Bulldogs: McLean, Daniel, Stringer, Dickson, Wood, Dahlhaus

BEST 
Sydney: Heeney, Kennedy, Papley, Lloyd, Grundy, Hannebery
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Daniel, Macrae, Wallis 

INJURIES 
Sydney: Jack (fingers)
Western Bulldogs: Adams (foot)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Nicholls, Hay, Findlay, McInerney

Official crowd: 20,692 at the SCG