SYDNEY is finally returning to its best form after a dire start to the season, coach John Longmire says.
After making the Grand Final last year, Sydney was winless after six rounds and looked to be no hope for the finals.
However, the Swans have resurrected their season on the back of comfortable wins over the Brisbane Lions, North Melbourne and St Kilda in the past three weeks.
The 50-point victory against the Saints at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon had Longmire in a good mood.
"We were really happy. There was a 15-minute patch in the third quarter that was as powerful, strong footy as we've played," Longmire said.
"(We were) getting after them and that fierceness that we want to get in our game was evident, which was really pleasing."
The manic pressure Sydney applied was obvious. Whenever a St Kilda player had the ball, there was a Swan immediately on him.
That intensity was the reason Sydney finished with 12 goalkickers.
"Normally it (spread of goalkickers) goes hand in hand (with pressure). They're a very good team at transferring the ball from one 50 to the other and their transfer of play is absolute quality (and) they're No. 1 in the competition at doing it," Longmire said.
"If you get your pressure right, chances are that other things tend to flow a little bit better, and we ended up with 12 goalkickers."
Longmire always held faith the turnaround in form would come.
"The personnel's changed, and we knew that was going to happen. The personnel in the first month is a bit different to the personnel now," he said.
"Then, it's pretty simple. It's just our pressure and presence around the contest. When you get that right, your skills look a bit better, your structures defensively get better, you get everything better on the back of personnel changes, some more experience in the team but also just fierceness around the contest."
WATCH: John Longmire's full post-match media conference
Star backman Dane Rampe returned for the first time since round one after breaking his arm and was among a back six that helped stifle a St Kilda attack that was the best in the competition at generating scoring shots from inside-50s.
"Dane Rampe coming back in the team's enormous for us. He's a vice-captain of the club and an All Australian defender. To have him running around, I thought he was terrific considering he hadn't played a game," he said.
Harry Cunningham will have scans on his right foot after leaving the field late in the third quarter.
The 23-year-old was dangerous throughout the game, kicking two goals on the burst from 50m and constantly threatening with his speed.
"He's a little bit sore. The doctor didn't want him to come back on so he'll have to have scans," he said.
