Sydney soaring to true AFL premiership contenders after West Coast thrashing

THE Sydney Swans poured cold water on the West Coast Eagles' premiership aspirations with a 52-point win that will be felt around the competition.

PERTH has the Swan River, Swan Lager -- and now a case of Swan flu.

John Longmire's Red and Whites poured cold water on the West Coast Eagles' premiership aspirations with a 52-point win that will be felt around the competition.

The result speaks as emphatically about their own title hopes, giving doubters plenty to ponder in weeks ahead.

Patersons Stadium is one of the most feared away trips on any AFL season, but yesterday the Swans notched the sixth successive win against the Eagles and their third in a row in Perth.

The Eagles hadn't lost at their home venue since an Adam Goodes-inspired Swans beat them by 13 points in round three last year.

Goodes tallied just 17 possessions and one goal this time around, but Sydney boasted winners all over the ground in a performance that should put the competition on notice.

This was no close encounter of the kind made famous by the Swans and Eagles of several years ago.

The Swans are now well and truly back atop the AFL ladder -- led by veteran Ryan O'Keefe who gathered a massive 39 possessions including 17 in the third quarter when the match was in the balance.

O'Keefe was just one of a host of dominant Swans midfielders. Dan Hannebery picked up 42 disposals and Kieren Jack continued his outstanding season with another brilliant performance.

Then there's Lewis Jetta, who kicked his four goals in front of a big gathering of family and friends who could be heard around the stadium.

Sam Reid and Jude Bolton both added three goals.

Daniel Kerr (31 possessions), Scott Selwood and Matt Rosa battled valiantly through the midfield, but Sydney ruckmen Shane Mumford and Pyke did well to nullify powerful Eagles Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

On a day of big-hearted performances there was none more courageous than Lewis Roberts-Thomson who put his body on the line and his head in danger's way again. The second quarter collision produced a concussion which saw him taken to hospital.

Roberts-Thomson's commitment was just one of a host of bone-jarring hits in the heavyweight clash between first and second on the ladder.

West Coast also have injury concerns, with Jack Darling subbed out in the third quarter with a hamstring complaint.

The contest had a genuine September feel from both sides but Longmire had no interest in talking about finals.

"I understand people want to talk about September now but I don't focus on it because it's July," Longmire said.

"I'm just really pleased about the style of footy were playing and thats what we've got to keep doing."

The Swans looked a little nervous in the early going with Hannebery giving away a silly free kick to gift inclusion Brad Sheppard a goal and Roberts-Thomson giving away a 50m penalty to allow Scott Selwood to stretch the lead to 19 points before Sydney had bothered the scorer.

In a see-sawing second term, the Swans pushed out to a 23-point lead through Adam Goodes, Jetta and Reid but the Eagles managed to stay within 14 points at the long change.

West Coast threw everything they had at the Swans in the third term but the visitors held strong to lead by 30 points at the final change.

Masten kicked the first of the last quarter but when Josh Kennedy snapped truly the game was over midway through the final term.