SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos has lauded his side's season-defining win over Hawthorn as their best performance of the year.
 
The Swans were perceived as vulnerable in eighth spot ahead of the match, but re-affirmed their finals credentials with the emphatic 44-point win.
 
"It probably was (our best win). We played a super game against Carlton, but I think the way Hawthorn have been going, they have arguably been the form side in the competition over the last two months so it was a really good effort," Roos said.
 
"I thought the effort in the last quarter was terrific. They lifted their work rate in the second half and they kicked three or four really quick goals, so for us to get away with such a big victory was pleasing."
 
The effort of the Swans was apparent as they ran hard to break the lines to find space where Hawks could not.

"I think it's more about effort," Roos said.

"The game doesn't change that much if you bring effort and have 22 players who turn up then that makes a difference."
 
Despite his delight at the win, Roos wasn't ready to talk premierships just yet and is wary of the road ahead with the knowledge other clubs have more depth to their rosters than the Swans can muster.
 
"I didn't think we really had a poor player, but we need that," Roos said.

"Some other teams around the top five can afford maybe five or six poor players, but we can't have 14 or 15 good players and expect to win."

Ryan O'Keefe had a rare run-with role on Brownlow contender Luke Hodge and did the job admirably in keeping the Hawk to thirteen touches and kicking four goals himself.
 
"I thought his job on Hodge was a super effort," Roos said.
" Hodgey is in the top four or five players in the competition, and to kick four goals on him and keep him to thirteen possessions was a super effort."
 
Speedster Lewis Jetta finally broke his duck in front of goal and you could see what it meant to his teammates as they celebrated around him with Roos also elated.
 
"You can see how much it means when I had to hold the four blokes on the bench from running on as well, so you can see how much it means," he said.
 
"I hope he kicks 18 straight goals now, or was it 19. He was stiff on the one after the siren."