Last-quarter hero Jarrad McVeigh has admitted getting one back on reigning premier Hawthorn meant that little bit more to the Sydney Swans than just the four points.

"Yeah, it does. A little bit. But more importantly for this year," the Swans co-captain said.

"You get a break on a few teams and you've just got to keep winning. The competition's so close this year, you've just got to keep those wins rolling on.

"We're pretty relaxed about it all. We know there's a long way to go. It was an important win in the context of this year and for the group, but we're not getting carried away."

Returning to the scene of their 63-point battering last September, it was the Swans who set the tone early in the Grand Final rematch with their scything skills and fierce attack on the ball – an element that was sorely and surprisingly lacking in the 2014 season decider.

Six unanswered goals from the Swans stunned Hawthorn, but McVeigh said his teammates were always bracing for a backlash.

It duly came, as the reigning premiers piled on nine goals to two to hit the front by 12 points in the final term.

"They're hard at it, we know that. We started well, but they're a good team. They were always going to come back and have a crack," McVeigh said.

With his side desperately searching for someone to stand up – and with Lance Franklin held scoreless by James Frawley – it was the co-captain who moved forward and kicked two crucial goals to help his side to a gripping four-point victory.

"I had the ability with 'Jetts' (Lewis Jetta) to go back and me to slide forward throughout the game, which we've been trying to work on," McVeigh said.

"I got on the end of a couple which was nice, (they were) a couple of good kicks by the boys.

"(Franklin) has an influence with the way he carries himself and the way he pressures and defends. That's what we ask of him; he obviously didn't get on the scoreboard tonight, but that's all right."

The Swans have improved to 6-2 and sit third on the ladder with winnable games against Carlton, Gold Coast and North Melbourne before the bye.

"Those (two) losses were pretty close too. We're going OK at the moment, we've just got to keep building momentum through to the bye; then we'll have a rest and then go again," McVeigh said.