THE SYDNEY Swans are on top of the AFL ladder - probably only temporarily - but coach John Longmire is more pleased they have proved they can win big games without their superstar Adam Goodes.

Goodes has missed the past five games with a torn quadriceps, and Sydney lost two of its first three games while he was sidelined, prompting many to dust off the old line: "no Goodes, no Swans."

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But the Swans have responded in emphatic style, hammering the Western Bulldogs by 92 points last week at the SCG and defeating Essendon by four points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The Swans are expected to lose top spot to Collingwood, which plays Melbourne in the Queen's Birthday clash on Monday, but Longmire was typically focused on the bigger picture.

"You don’t get caught up looking at the ladder because we know we haven’t won enough games to play finals yet," he said.

"What it does do is give the players some confidence that they can play some really strong footy.

"'Goodesy' is an important part of the team but he hasn't been playing for a few weeks and we've been able to win without him, which is a good sign."

Swans defender Heath Grundy was more positive about the mini-milestone moment.

"After the game it came up on the big screen that we were up the top, which is a nice feeling," he said.

"There's a long way to go … but we'll go into the back half of the year really confident we can win some more games and look forward to the finals."

The Swans have a bye next week and will be boosted by the long-awaited return of Goodes, along with Ben McGlynn after serving a suspension, while ruckman Shane Mumford will add another dimension to the side when he  gains full fitness.

"Our first half (of the season) has been really solid, and the players have stood up under some real pressure and won some really important games," Longmire said.

"The boys that have come in have done a really good job, and I know that's important. They've played a really solid, strong role for us, which has been pleasing."