SYDNEY has moved into the top four with a thoroughly professional 18-point win over Brisbane at a wet Gabba on Saturday night.

The 10.7 (67) to 6.13 (49) victory was the Swans' third straight and kept their unbeaten run on the road intact in 2018.

It also continued a winning streak against the Lions that dates back to 2009.

SWANS SLICK IN WET Full match coverage and stats

The Lions tried hard and can hold their heads high, but Sydney was rarely troubled, leading by four points at quarter-time and gradually moving away across the game.

Even with superstar forward Lance Franklin (one goal) well held by Darcy Gardiner, the Swans were too much, with classy Isaac Heeney and youngsters Ben Ronke and Will Hayward kicking two goals apiece.

Josh Kennedy (34 disposals, 23 contested) was a bull in the slippery conditions, while George Hewett (28), Jake Lloyd (26) and Luke Parker (22) were also valuable.

Sydney coach John Longmire was a relieved man post-match after his team withered a final quarter barrage of inside 50s from the Lions.

"They've got some talent, they go in hard, they had 80-plus tackles tonight. We feel that was a really tough game and to come away with a win, we're pleased with that," Longmire said.

"We put our defenders under the pump too much in that last quarter.

"We got beaten around the clearances too much at times and weren't as consistent around there as what we should have been.

"Mostly importantly we were happy with the win."

The Lions kept coming, and Allen Christensen's goal early in the final term had them within 15 points, but for much of the contest, they battled to work through a disciplined Swans' defence.

When Brisbane tried to exit its defensive 50, a hurried kick was often met by a wall of Swans, which saw the ball coming back with interest.

SWAN DEFENDERS STEP UP Five talking points

Callum Mills' season-ending injury during the week might hurt his team long-term, but it didn't in this match, with Lloyd, Jarrad McVeigh (22) and Zak Jones (25) particularly clean across half-back.

The trio not only got plenty of ball but disposed of it at better than 80 per cent efficiency.

Six days ago Brisbane defeated Hawthorn, and although being unable to back up with another win, did enough to again encourage its supporters.

They matched the Swans in tight and won most statistical categories, including inside 50s (56-51), clearances (52-40) and tackles (81-58) but were rushed with their disposal.

Lions coach Chris Fagan was left to rue his team's poor kicking for goal.

"From set shots, I think they kicked 6.3 and we kicked 4.6, in a game that was as tight as that, sometimes it comes down to those things," Fagan said.

"The other thing I thought they did was they won the ball when it hit the ground in our front half a bit too much, and repelled from those situations.

"We didn’t make the most of our opportunities. We proved though that we could play against a big-bodied side in conditions that probably suited them more than us.

"We really toughed it out and I loved that about our performance tonight."

Youngsters Cam Rayner and Jarrod Berry giving away 50m penalties that resulted in goals on a low-scoring night didn't help either.

In the same week he stepped down as captain, Dayne Beams was a monster.

He was tireless, finishing with 38 disposals and drifting forward to slot a nice set shot from a neat Dan McStay pass.

Mitch Robinson was ferocious, body-lining Dan Hannebery with a huge bump in the first quarter – that the Swan somehow got up from – and had a match-high 26 contested possessions among his total of 35.

The Lions played the second half without rugged defender Matt Eagles, who went off before the main break with an abdominal injury.

MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane: Defender Matt Eagles came off in the second quarter with an abdominal problem. Coach Chris Fagan said he expected the 28-year-old to miss a couple of weeks.

Sydney: A clean bill of health for the Swans.

NEXT UP
Sydney has a short turnaround but would be short-priced favourites to make it four-in-a-row next Friday night when they host Carlton at the SCG. Brisbane has an eight-day break and will play North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

BRISBANE       2.2       2.3       4.7       6.13 (49)
SYDNEY           3.0       5.3       8.6       10.7 (67)

GOALS
Brisbane: Berry, D.Beams, Rayner, Zorko, Cutler, Christensen
Sydney: Heeney 2, Hayward 2, Ronke 2, Papley, Stoddart, Franklin, Jack

BEST 
Brisbane: D.Beams, Gardiner, Robinson, Zorko, Martin, Cutler
Sydney: Kennedy, Jones, Lloyd, Heeney, McVeigh, Hewett 

INJURIES 
Brisbane: Eagles (abdominals)
Sydney: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ryan, Hosking, Gavine

Official crowd: 18,702 at the Gabba