SYDNEY'S physical battering of the Western Bulldogs in their 46-point win at the SCG on Saturday night was the kind of footy coach John Longmire has been searching for all season. 

The Swans stood over the premiers from the moment they targeted their nemesis Jason Johannisen at the opening bounce and never let up, producing four quarters of the type of contested footy they've become renowned for.

Johannisen, who booted the winning goal against the Swans at the same venue last year, then grabbed the Norm Smith medal in the Dogs' victorious Grand Final, copped it from all angles for most of the opening half, and like the rest of his teammates, failed to handle the barrage and the close checking of young Swan George Hewett.

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Longmire said it wasn't about individual attacks for his side, they just wanted to impose themselves on the Dogs early and maintain it for four quarters, something they've struggled to do in 2017.

"We wanted to make sure that we did that to all of their good players, they've got a very good team, and they've played well against us a number of times," he said.

"We had a disciplined forward group which is important against a team that runs so well.

"The consistent pressure that we applied, we didn't let up on it at all, and we put the opposition under enormous pressure when they had the ball, and that turned into 71 inside 50s (to 39).

"There's no secrets to AFL footy, you've got to go harder for longer. 

Five talking points: Sydney v Western Bulldogs

"I think structurally we were pretty sound but that’s always built on your intensity at the contest and around the ball, and in our scramble situations we were pretty good too."

Longmire praised the game of former co-captain Kieren Jack who returned for his first game since round five and showed some positive signs after struggling with a hip problem early in the season.

Jack took time to work his way into the game playing across half forward, but collected nine possessions in the third term to finish with 16 for the night, before being forced off with a hand injury in the last quarter.

WATCH: John Longmire's full post-match press conference

"He was pretty important for us in a leadership sense in that first half, then he really got going when he started to find his sea legs in that third quarter," Longmire said.

"His third quarter was really good and he started off the last quarter well too and went in for some centre bounces, but dislocated a couple of fingers there at the end."

Forward Gary Rohan was a late withdrawal from the game with illness but Longmire said he would be available for selection for next week's clash with Richmond at the MCG.