THE Western Bulldogs broke their Sydney hoodoo and kept their undefeated AFL record this season with a come-from-behind win over the Swans at the SCG.

The Dogs had not won in the Harbour City since 2002 but the Adam Cooney-inspired visitors triumphed by 18 points to cement third place on the ladder.

Coach Rodney Eade's side has now won six and drawn one of its opening seven games to stay in touch with premiership favourites Geelong and Hawthorn.

Cooney was clearly best on ground, gathering 25 possessions and kicking five goals as the Bulldogs overcame a slow start and a typical Sydney fightback to seal the win.

The No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, Cooney was relishing his first victory in Sydney after the Bulldogs matched the Swans' renowned physical style.

"It's my first win in Sydney since I've been at the club. It was very exciting and I suppose it's another one in the bank," he said.

"I think our contested footy has been up there with the best of them this year.

"We spoke about it in the pre-season that we really needed to up that and this was probably the perfect test … I thought we acquitted ourselves really well."

Sydney made a strong start, kicking the opening two goals through Jarrad McVeigh and taking a 15-point advantage into the first break.

But a different Bulldogs team emerged after a spray from Eade, kicking seven goals without reply before a late Swans major put the visitors 21 points up at half-time.

The Swans poured on the pressure in the third quarter, but were left to rue woeful kicking, at one stage missing four straight set-goal shots.

In contrast, the Bulldogs made the most of their opportunities and Sydney coach Paul Roos felt that had been decisive in his side's defeat.

"I think at the end of the day, that really was the difference in the game," he said. "If you keep missing goals, you end up losing games and that's what ended up happening today.

"We won a lot of the ball, we tackled really well and put some really good pressure on, we played some really good footy. But they were just cleaner with their skills and obviously more accurate with their goalkicking."

As well as Cooney's starring role, Brad Johnson took nine marks and kicked four goals, while Robert Murphy and Daniel Giansiracusa were also prominent.

The Swans closed to within two goals late in the game, but the Dogs always seemed to have the answers.

"We hadn't beaten them for a while, so that was one positive," Johnson said.

"We started the game a bit scratchy and they got a few goals up, but our second quarter, we got things going and were able to play the way we wanted to … We got a lead, which we were able to hold."

Sydney's early lead suddenly evaporated within the first 10 minutes of the second term as the Bulldogs — despite missing key midfielder Scott West, who withdrew from the match with a knee injury — kicked three unanswered goals.

And it didn't cease there. It was if the Swans decided not to come back on for the second quarter as the visitors did what they liked.

The Dogs belted Sydney in the area of contested possession, and at the major break, Sydney just did not look likely or capable of getting back into the contest the way it was playing.

The Swans improved in the third term, with a noticeable lift in their intensity, but they failed to take advantage on the scoreboard, kicking 4.5 for the quarter, while the Dogs continued to make the most of their chances.

W BULLDOGS 3.1 10.2 14.2 18.4 (112)
SYDNEY 5.4 6.4 10.10 14.10 (94)

GOALS Western Bulldogs: Cooney 5, Johnson 4, Murphy 2, Hahn 2, Tiller 2, Callan, Minson, Eagleton. Sydney: O'Loughlin 3, McVeigh 2, Buchanan 2, O'Keefe, Jolly, Playfair, Jack, Everitt, Goodes, J Bolton.

BEST Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Johnson, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Hahn, Gilbee. Sydney: O'Keefe, McVeigh, Richards, Moore, J Bolton, O'Loughlin.

INJURIES Western Bulldogs: Tiller replaced West (knee) in selected side.

UMPIRES Rosebury, Stevic, McInerney.

CROWD 29,018 at the SCG.

THE UPSHOT THE Bulldogs are still unbeaten, having won their first match in Sydney since 2002. The Swans have achieved perfect mediocrity: three wins, three losses and a draw.

HOT AND COLD ADAM Cooney was best afield as he continued his excellent start to the season. His skipper Brad Johnson has not had the best of openings, but he was another key to the Bulldogs' win.

TALKING POINT THE Bulldogs' pre-season emphasis on improving their work in contests paid dividends again. Yesterday, they matched the Swans in the physical contests and were much better in use of the ball.

AAP, With MICHAEL COWLEY