CRAIG BOLTON reinforced his status as one of the AFL'spremier stoppers by keeping Richmond spearhead Matthew Richardson goalless foronly the second time this season.

The All-Australian defender restricted the Tigers big man toa solitary behind in Sydney's 21.12 (138) to 10.12 (72) victory at the SCG onSaturday night.

The only other time that Richardson failed to boot a majorthis year was in round five against West Coast.

Bolton said the key to his success was the support hereceived from his teammates.

"I received a lot of help from the midfielders and thepressure they put on and that goes a long way to helping us at the back,"he said.

"That goes a long way to making our job [look] a lot better. Obviously getting blokes like Goodesy coming back and helping in the airmakes the job a little bit easier."

The Swans have had a fairly stable back six in recent yearsbut there have been disruptions this year with Tadhg Kennelly, Leo Barry andLewis Roberts-Thomson all spending time on the sidelines.

"[This year] has seemed a bit different [after] havinghad such a stable defence down back for a few years now. This year we have lostTadhg with bits and pieces and Lewie has been out and now Leo, so it has givenus a little bit of a different look," he said.

"But I think we have a few different guys like HeathGrundy, who is playing well down there, and other guys. It is a good test and agood chance for a few young guys to come through more than anything."

Bolton feels Barry's return in the coming week or two wouldbe important as the Swans try to firm up the back six in time for a possiblepost-season run.

"[The defence has] been a bit up and down like most ofthe team but hopefully we can be a little bit more settled leading into thefinals," he said.

"We have had some good performances down back, we haveto make sure we get our solid back six back and get Leo back and then take somegood form into the business end of the season."

The Swans play Melbourne next Sunday in Canberra but Boltonsaid he hadn't yet put his mind towards an match up with Demons spearhead DavidNeitz.

"I have not thought too much about that, my mind waspretty full with Richo last week," he said.

"We'll see how Leo goes, if he does not get up … Melbournehave a lot of good forwards but in the last few weeks we have been playing somepretty good footy and hopefully that puts us in good stead."