For the Sydney Swans, pressure football has been a hallmark of their performances this season.

At the midway point of the season, the Swans are the number one ranked tackling team in the competition with 830 tackles so far, at an average of 75 per game.

In Saturday’s win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium, the Swans dominated the tackle count, laying 20 more than the Bombers.

The Swans leading tackler for the season, Craig Bird, said his team’s ability to be hard and tough at stoppages and in contests has been a key factor in the team’s strong start to the season.

“Obviously defensive pressure is a big focus for us, and I think all teams focus on it now,” Bird told sydneyswans.com.au.

“I think our pressure has been good this year and we’ve been able to shut teams down and really stop their ball movement.

“(In Saturday night’s game) both teams had a lot of the footy, but we were able to pressure them quite well.

“Obviously (Essendon) also kicked a lot of behinds and that showed our pressure was pretty good and we were able to force them to make mistakes in those first three quarters.”

Bird, who has notched 67 tackles for the season at an average of just under seven per game, said improving his pressure on field has been a focus in 2012.

“Tackling has been a big focus for me this year and one area that I’ve looked to improve,” he said.

“I’ve just had the focus of trying to put pressure on the opposition. Obviously every year I’ve been trying to do it, but this year I’ve been able to do it a bit better.

“Playing a bit more through the midfield has enabled me to get involved in more stoppages and contests, so that’s made my tackle count a bit higher.

“I’m not going too badly this year with the tackles, so hopefully I can keep it up for the rest of the year.”

But the Swans’ number 14 said it was not only the Swans’ pressure football that has improved this season.

Responding to comments from Essendon coach James Hird following last weekend’s game that the Swans’ football had ‘evolved’ since last season, Bird said he believed the improvement had come from the team’s improved ability to score.

“I think our (ball movement) has been good,” he said.

“I think we’re moving the ball a bit faster and a bit more direct to the goals, and we’re reaping the benefits.

“We’ve just been able to score a bit better this year as well, and I think that’s been the difference.”

The Swans’ strong start to the season will see the team go into the bye with an 8-3 win/loss record.

Bird, who is enjoying a few days in Byron Bay during his time off, said there was no doubt the club was thrilled to go into the bye week as one of the top ranked teams in the competition.

“We’re pretty happy with where we’re at the moment," he said.

“We obviously dropped a few games a few weeks ago against Richmond and Adelaide but we’re pretty happy to be at 8-3 and to be in the top four, we’re pretty happy with it and hopefully we can go on with it in the second part of the season.”