Sydney climbed back into the top four at least for the night by systematically dismantling Brisbane in a 57-point win at Telstra Stadium.

The reigning AFL premiers increased their lead at every break before burying the lowly Lions with a five-goal-to-one final term to win 14.13 (97) to 6.4 (40).

The undermanned Lions tried to stall the Swans running game from the outset but Adam Goodes' best-on-ground effort inspired the home side to carve out a percentage-boosting win.

Recalled small forward Nick Davis was fairly quiet in his return match after falling foul of the club with an outburst following his mid-season axing.

The Swans jumped into fourth spot with their fifth straight win over Brisbane but Fremantle has the chance to reclaim the position against West Coast on Sunday.

Melbourne's draw with Geelong opened up a chance for the Swans to slip into third spot at the end of next week.

The Demons are half a game ahead of the Swans but meet Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in the final round while the Sydneysiders host cellar-dwellers Carlton.

The Swans made two changes to their selected side with Ben Mathews and Paul Bevan elevated for the injured pair of Lewis Roberts-Thomson (foot) and Luke Ablett (back).

However the Lions were much slicker in the opening term but the influence of Goodes ensured the Swans held a one-point lead at the first change.

The 2003 Brownlow medallist was at his hard-running best in the opening half, accelerating away from his opponent to boot the Swans into the lead in the 20th minute in the first quarter.

But as good as Goodes was, a goal umpire had a shocker in the 26th minute by allowing a goal to Justin Sherman to stand.

The ball thudded into the goal-pads straight in front of the official but the goal was still awarded.

Young Lion Jason Roe injured his knee in the opening term and didn't return after coming off worse for wear from a tackle on Ryan O'Keefe.

There was no doubting Sherman's next major with the talented youngster Sherman adding his second in style with a fine running goal from hard up on the boundary line.

However Sydney started breaking down the Lions in the second term, kicking four goals to one with Barry Hall booting his second major just before halftime.

The match became a real arm wrestle in the third term.

Neither side managed to boot a goal before the 17th minute when Jude Bolton snapped a goal for a 28-point lead but a minute later Chris Johnson replied for the visitors.

Big man Stephen Doyle took a mark in the goal-square to push the Swans' lead out to 29 points before Sydney stormed home.

The Lions play St Kilda at the Gabba next weekend.

Four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews rated the Swans a contender for this year's flag but said West Coast remained his tip to lift the premiership trophy after the match.

"One of the contenders but there is a few of them," the Brisbane mentor said.

"I think the team we played last week is the most equipped, the Eagles.

"I think they have the most weapons out of all the teams in the race to be honest.

"Maybe St Kilda would have if they had them all available, but there is a couple they know are missing for the season.

"But the Swans certainly are a very good team and they are capable on their night of beating them all."

Swans coach Paul Roos was heartened by his side's concentration levels in the hard-fought contest.

"The most pleasing thing about tonight was that the last quarter was the best quarter," Roos said.

"Brisbane came out to their credit really hard early but we got back on track.

"What we really wanted to achieve tonight was playing for 120 minutes."

Roos said Roberts-Thomson's foot injury wasn't serious and expected him to be available to play the Blues next Sunday at the SCG.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP