SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire saluted Josh Kennedy's "classic" game after the midfielder helped carry his side to a crucial victory over St Kilda at the SCG.

The Saints were the last side to beat the Swans, back in round nine, and took it right up to the ladder-leaders again on Sunday.

But they were unable to contain Kennedy, who finished with a game-high 35 possessions - 21 of which were contested - plus nine clearances and a steadying second-quarter goal from outside 50m.

On a day when the Swans' ball use was below the level they had produced throughout the majority of the season, Kennedy proved vital as they claimed a seventh straight win, 15.15 (105) to 10.16 (76).

"Josh played a classic game as far as what he's known for; a really hard, contested-ball game," Longmire said afterwards.

"He's improved in a lot of areas, but ultimately he's a massive competitor who is really clean inside and I thought we fumbled a bit today.

"But Josh was really clean and often had an extra one or two players going to him on top of his direct opponent."

That direct opponent was predominantly Lenny Hayes, who had been so influential in St Kilda's victory over the Swans last time out.

But Hayes was well held on Sunday and Kennedy said it was important to rebound from their poor effort against the Saints in round nine.

"We really respect St Kilda as a team and really wanted to get after them today," he said.

"We were a bit disappointed in the result from last time and I think we owed them one, so it was good to get the win."

Kennedy started the season in scintillating form to launch himself into the Brownlow Medal discussion.

He wasn't quite able to maintain that start as teams tried to shut him down, but he has well and truly bought into the Swans' team-first mantra.

"I've had to adapt to different challenges along the way and keep learning," he said.

"I still consider myself pretty young.

"We're playing really well as a team and I'm not as focused on a personal level as I am on a team side of things."

The majority of onlookers felt the Swans were down on the level they had been showing during their rise to the top of the ladder, but their coach was still more than satisfied at fulltime.

"The contested ball we were plus-20, so some of the effort was pretty good I thought," he said.

"We just fumbled a bit and made some bad decisions with the footy at times.

"They were the areas that stood out to us a bit.

"You had two teams with a lot on the line and they're not going to be easy games of footy."

James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD