Sydney have kept pace with fellow premiership favourites Hawthorn in the hunt for top spot on the ladder after toppling Port Adelaide by 26 points.
The teams were locked in a dogfight until the Swans gave themselves enough breathing space in the second half to win 12.12 (84) to 7.16 (58) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
With million-dollar recruits Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett well held by Power duo Jack Hombsch and Alipate Carlile, Ben McGlynn rose to the occasion for the Swans kicking three goals and collecting 21 touches.
Brownlow contender Josh Kennedy terrorised the Power with 33 disposals along with fellow midfielder stars Luke Parker, Kieren Jack and Craig Bird, who combined for an impressive 25 tackles.
Young gun Harry Cunningham was also impressive with three goals.
Sydney opened the scoring when Cunningham broke clear into an open 50 and goaled but Port hit back instantly when Jake Neade slotted a free-kick.
Neade was in the thick of it again to set up Chad Wingard for a goal before McGlynn levelled proceedings only for the Power to regain a slender one-point lead at the first break.
The Swans wrestled back the lead when Franklin goaled after benefiting from a controversial decision.
Franklin bundled Hombsch to the ground with a hefty push, but the umpire was unmoved as the superstar forward strolled in to kick his first goal.
It was all Franklin needed to escape Hombsch’s clutches momentarily as the dual premiership player booted a second.
Goals failed to materialise following Franklin’s back-to-back effort until Power ruckman Matthew Lobbe stepped to the plate.
McGlynn then bagged another major on the half-time siren to give the Swans an 11-point buffer.
McGlynn then grabbed his third after the break and then Kurt Tippett got in on the act, but just as the visitors attempted to pull clear Port skipper Travis Boak pegged the margin back with a sweet finish from a tight angle.
Both sides then traded goals with Cunningham and Boak – the beneficiary of a 50-metre penalty – adding to their tally.
Tippett popped up in traffic to kick his second to start the fourth term shortly before being handed the red vest.
The Swans kicked three more goals in his absence to the Power’s two, with Cunningham icing the victory after the siren.
Michael huston
Guest
Interesting point. People are labelling us cheats but I'm sure if we fail dismally in the future in the list management department, people will be quick to criticise our recruiting staff. It lies with the staff. Whether it's a success or a failure, it's on them. I think most Swans fans are prepared for that, lets see if the rest of the AFL world will catch up.
Natalie Swansfan
Guest
If anything happened to Mikey Pyke, Reidy and Tippo would handle the ruckwork. How is big Mummy going? Setting the world on fire down at GWS who are likely to finish 17th. Think the Swannies are doing pretty well without him Boosk. (The Boo-sk is a play on words suggesting that nearly everything you say about Sydney sounds much the same as my 18month old when things don't go his way .....boo hoo....and is reminiscent of nearly everything that comes out of Eddie McGuires mouth)
Momentbymoment
Guest
Bosk - i do admire your ability to keep two opposing views in your mind at the same time. On the one hand, the Swans are cheats and everything was given to them. On the other hand, they had to let Mumford go to get Franklin - a move that could easily backfire.
Michael huston
Guest
As inspiring as your negativity is Bosk, I'm afraid we've survived despite being smashed in the ruck all year. We've only won the hit-outs in five games this year, and two of those were losses. We were smashed in the ruck against Freo, Geelong and West Coast, to name a few, and we still won. I'm confident our midfield could survive without Pyke. Who knows, a youngster might be better. Could probably have the same number of hit-outs as Pyke but also have the athleticism around the ground which Pyke does not have.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Apparently Tom Derickx's season is officially over now that he's been placed on the long term injury list meaning if anything should happen to Mike Pyke the Swans will be forced to field a completely untested rookie in the ruck during the finals against Sandilands, McEvoy, Hale & McIntosh. It really would be a terribly tragedy if that were to happen. Particularly in the wake of Sydney being forced to jettison Mumford to free up space for Franklin.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
No doubt he was. He nearly dragged the Power into a frenzy. They played well and so did the Swans. Was a really good game, both had individual efforts as well as runs and good team play. I enjoyed it - what footy is all about. Not enough articles talk about good games but that really was football excitement.
Michael huston
Guest
Good win. I sense that for some reason Longmire has changed us back into the defensive slog-like team we were a few years ago. Not sure why, and the way they're playing is far less convincing going into the finals than what they were about eight/nine weeks ago. It was good to see Sydney grind through for the win, as Port were definitely an improvement from the last few weeks. They still aren't at the level they were at earlier in the year, but they definitely played like a finals team, so I was glad the Swans weren't intimidated. I'm not sure why our midfield seems to be getting beaten a lot. Is it Pyke? He looks out of shape and gets smashed in hit-outs. Hopefully Hannebery will find his top form and give the midfield some life again. All in all, not the blockbuster I was expecting. Lots of errors from both sides but the boys keep going on their merry way like Hawthorn. Now they just have to not get complacent... Best on ground: 1. McGlynn 2. Boak 3. Kennedy 4. Gray 5. Parker/Richards
Radelaide
Guest
Still a very young team and I guess it's starting to show because the players that have disappeared during this form slump are the youngest (Wines, Wingard,Polec)
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
That's the best performance from the Swans in weeks. Handled the early intensity and pressure of a rejuvenated Port, an had the answers late in the game. Cunningham, Jetta and Rohan provided awesome speed. McGlynn was brilliant. Only downside was Reid. Didn't see enough of it.
Mik
Guest
Robbie gray BOG and im a swans supporter the signs are there for Port.