SYDNEY has thrust its name into the premiership conversation after conquering West Coast by 15 points at the SCG on Friday night. 

The Swans snapped the Eagles' 10-game winning streak despite being held goalless in the first and last terms, thanks to a run of seven unanswered majors either side of half-time.

The 10.12 (72) to 7.15 (57) victory means the Swans have now handed West Coast its only two losses this year after they also took the honours in round one.

SWANS HAVE EAGLES MEASURE Full match coverage and stats

The home side's defence was superbly led by Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe and 250-gamer Heath Grundy, with Rampe holding star Eagle Josh Kennedy to just two goals.

Oliver Florent (29 possessions), Josh Kennedy (28) and Isaac Heeney (22 touches and eight tackles) were outstanding midfielders for the Swans, while Dan Hannebery had a solid night in limiting the impact of Andrew Gaff.

Coach John Longmire was understandably pleased to head into next week’s bye with a win over the ladder leaders.

"They'd won 10 in a row and are a very, very good football team, so it wasn't easy," he said.

"We thought it was a really even performance and to play the best team in the competition on a Friday night, and have our young players all contribute was important.

"The leaders were good as well so it was a good result."

Elliott Yeo was a stand out for the visitors with 29 disposals, eight tackles and two goals, with Jack Redden and Chris Masten also good for the Eagles.

Jeremy McGovern had a good duel with Swans superstar Lance Franklin, and while neither player had a significant influence on the contest, Franklin had seven shots at goal and finished with 2.5 for the night.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said he was happy with his team's effort, but their ball use going forward and ability to hit the scoreboard let them down. 

"We didn't convert early and they did," he said. 

"They were the better side and we weren't good enough on the night, but I thought in the second half in particular, the boys really had a go.

"We got exposed in our front half with some of our younger players and there was some smart defence from Sydney."

West Coast played the first term predominantly in their forward half, but despite winning the inside 50 count 18-8 and keeping the home side goalless, they couldn't take advantage on the scoreboard.

In a dour struggle that saw both sides turn the ball over at will, the Eagles booted just one major for the quarter, when Kennedy converted a strong mark in the 19th minute.

It was West Coast's 10th quarter-time advantage for the season but the Swans set about turning the momentum back in their favour early in the second term.

With their defence well on top, Sydney’s Kennedy and Luke Parker lifted their influence and after the two sides exchanged goals, the home side booted the last four before half-time, two of them to energetic small forward Tom Papley, to head to the long break ahead by 14 points.

 

The visitors had the perfect chance to snare an early goal but Liam Ryan pushed a set shot wide from directly in front, and his blunder hurt the Eagles even more when the Swans piled on three of their own through Ben Ronke, Kieren Jack and Lance Franklin.

Jake Waterman dragged the margin back to 24 points when he won a free kick inside 50 and kicked truly, and another for Kennedy, who was on the end of a long inside 50 entry from Yeo, had the Eagles within three goals.

Will Hayward steadied Sydney and Franklin's second pushed the advantage back out to 32 points, before two more pieces of individual brilliance from Yeo sparked the visitors.

The 2017 All Australian launched a bomb from outside 50 just before three-quarter time, then repeated the dose just 19 seconds into the final term to cut the Swans' buffer to 20 points.

The Eagles kicked the only other goal for the term, but unfortunately for them it didn't come until the 23-minute mark after a flurry of behinds for both teams.

The Swans, and in particular Franklin, were wasteful, but were able to hold on for a sixth straight win.

MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: The Swans looked to have got through without any injury worries.

West Coast: Midfielder Luke Shuey copped a couple of heavy knocks, while Josh Kennedy and Liam Ryan were limping after half-time, so they'll need to be monitored during the week.

NEXT UP
The Swans get a week off with their mid-season bye coming in round 14, while the Eagles head back to Perth for a clash with Essendon at Optus Stadium on Thursday night.



SYDNEY          0.3   5.3   10.6   10.12 (72)
WEST COAST   1.3   2.7   5.10   7.15 (57)

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 2, Papley 2, Ronke 2, Cunningham, Kennedy, Jack, Hayward
West Coast: Kennedy 2, Yeo 2, Ryan, Waterman, Lycett 

BEST
Sydney: Heeney, Florent, Rampe, Lloyd, Kennedy, Aliir
West Coast: Yeo, Redden, Naitanui, Duggan, Masten 

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
West Coast: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Deboy, Nicholls, Gianfagna, McInerney

Official crowd: 36,402 at the SCG