SYDNEY Swans assistant coach John Longmire says his players have regained self belief, just in time for a tilt at the premiership.

After looking long shots for the flag in the weeks leading up to the finals and almost losing their place in the top eight, the Swans found form when it mattered most, inflicting a 35-point defeat on North Melbourne in Saturday night's elimination final at ANZ Stadium.
 
That win set up a semi-final showdown with the out of form Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night, and Longmire said on Tuesday morning the Swans were brimming with confidence ahead of the trip south.

"Self belief has been a big factor in the last couple of weeks," Longmire, the club's coaching coordinator, said.

"Players who've been struggling a bit have been able to get back in to a bit of form and that's given them confidence and also the team confidence.

"Every team goes through a bad trot most years and you do lose a little bit of self belief, but the important thing is to get back to our trademark footy and contested style of play."

Looking back on Saturday night, the former Kangaroos spearhead said he was pleased to see the Swans forward structure clicking into gear at the right time of the year.

"To be able to kick 17 goals in a game of footy was great. Hally's in good form and Goodsey's second half was very good. Kieren Jack bobbing up with three goals adds to our potency in that forward line.

"And Ryan (O'Keefe) may've only had three or four possessions to half time but they were very effective possessions. And he had five contested marks. His marking ability certainly adds a little potency to our forward line."

Longmire was particularly pleased with Barry Hall's contribution. He booted three goals while his trademark aggression rarely boiled over. Longmire knows he's vital for the Swans cause.

"Barry's biggest asset is his speed for his size. And when he's in a one-on-one situation he's hard to beat.

"He just wants to let his footy do his talking."

Looking ahead to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, Longmire says the Swans need to make it a four-quarter effort, something they've struggled to do the last two times they've faced Rodney Eade's side this season.
 
The Swans were blown away in the second quarter of their round-seven clash with the Dogs at the SCG. The Bulldogs kicked seven goals to one, building a platform for an 18-point victory.

Similarly in round 18 the Bulldogs' eight-goal second quarter helped them to a 16-point win in Canberra.

Last Saturday North took a 14-point lead into the first break last weekend before the Swans worked their way back into the contest, then slammed on eight goals in the third quarter.

"Our second half was good but we know we've got to get off to a better start," said Longmire.

"And each time we've played the Bulldogs this year they've beaten us relatively easily in contested footy. So we've got to make sure we address that area and be more consistent over four quarters.

"Winning the contested ball is a big part of finals footy. All the other teams left in the competition are standouts in that area.

"We dropped away in those quarters [against the Bulldogs] and they cost us the game. We need to go after the Bulldogs and really match them in that area.

"And you've got to remember, for two-thirds of this season, the Bulldogs have been standouts."