THE SYDNEY Swans have returned to the winners' list with a thrilling four-point victory over Fremantle at the SCG.

Adam Goodes was the hero, kicking a career-best eight goals, including two in the last nine minutes as the Swans overturned a 14-point deficit. Barry Hall finally put the side in front before they held on to win 17.10 (112) to 15.18 (108).

In an exciting, see-saw encounter, Fremantle took slender leads into the first two breaks but the Swans fought back to post a 13-point margin going into the final quarter.

Matthew Pavlich could have put the visitors 19 points ahead with 22 minutes gone in the last term, but missed his shot on goal.

Hall kicked four goals for the Swans to go with Goodes' magical haul. The pair showed all their experience to dominate the one-on-ones in the forward 50 against their younger opponents.

Jude Bolton and Tadhg Kennelly also starred for the Swans, while Paul Bevan had a great game and a mark to remember in the final minute.

Pavlich was superb across the ground for Fremantle, while giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands was dominant at the taps.

Goodes, under a slight injury cloud after a groin problem ruled him out of last week's loss to the Bulldogs, started in the forward line – and this was to prove a masterstroke.

He outmuscled young Chris Mayne to mark and goal in the first quarter, repeated the effort in the second term and had exactly half the Swans' score – four goals – to half time.

The Swans were fired up for the start of the third quarter. Jude Bolton and Hall restored the lead, but with Pavlich always dangerous at half-forward and Rhys Palmer an energetic presence in the centre, Fremantle was never out of the game.

Goodes again outplayed his marker and toed home inches in front of the posts, while a monster kick from Bolton handed the home side a 13-point lead going into the final term.

But any momentum the Swans though they had was quickly seized by Fremantle. Pavlich found Michael Johnson and the defender kicked beautifully to reduce the arrears to just seven points.

Ryan O'Keefe booted home after Paul Bevan sharked the ball inside 50, but Ryan Crowley, who was tagging O'Keefe, got Fremantle back into it with a superb snap with the outside of the foot.

More genius by Pavlich locked up the scores with a snap from 30m, before Duffield put Fremantle ahead with a set shot, Brett Peake threaded home from a tight angle, and Pavlich missed a simple set shot to keep the margin to 14 points.

Goodes profited from Jarrad McVeigh's mark and kick and suddenly the Swans were short by eight points with five minutes to go. A point score to McVeigh was followed by Goodes' eighth goal – this one an unbelievable piece of trickery after he danced through a crowded forward pocket.

With the Swans trailing by a point with three minutes to play, Hall found the ball in space inside the arc, kicked truly and the SCG went wild.

Freo hit the post to reduce the lead to four points in the final, frantic last minutes. But Paul Bevan, with shades of Leaping Leo in 2005, marked bravely going back with the flight of the ball to keep the visitors at bay.

The win will give the Swans a huge confidence lift going into next week's tough test against Geelong at ANZ stadium.

Sydney Swans      2.4          7.6          13.8       17.10 (112)
Fremantle             3.5          8.8          10.13     15.18 (108)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Goodes 8, Hall 4, J. Bolton 2, Veszpremi 2, O’Keefe
Fremantle: Bradley 3, Campbell 2, Crowley 2, Duffield 2, Tarrant, Palmer, Mayne, Michael Johnson, Pavlich, Peake

BEST
Sydney Swans: Goodes, J. Bolton, Hall, Kennelly, Mattner
Fremantle: Pavlich, Palmer, Sandilands, Crowley, Hayden, Tarrant

INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Leo Barry (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Luke Ablett
Fremantle: Antoni Grover replaced in selected side by Marcus Drum