Sydney Swans co-captain Adam Goodes paid tribute to his fellow team leaders in standing up when it counted during Saturday’s 39-point win over the Western Bulldogs at the SCG.

Goodes said the entire playing group knew the value of securing the four points leading into this weekend's bye, especially after losing four of their previous five games coupled with St Kilda displacing them in the top eight the night before. 

“We knew how important today was; every player knew how important it was,” Goodes told SwansTV after the game.

“It was all about the four points and a four quarter effort. The onus was on the leaders to really step-up this week to get the job done, and I thought a lot of us stepped up today and really helped those younger boys and showed the way.”

After a quick turnaround from the previous week’s disappointing loss to Fremantle, Goodes said the focus in the shortened week was to come out firing and continue the form the team had shown in the last quarter against the Dockers.

“We came off a six-day break and only had the one training session where it bucketed down rain, so it was really about getting that energy and feeling right out there, and I thought the way we started was really pleasing,” he said.

“We knew we were up for a challenge and it was just really pleasing to dominate the inside-50 count and give our forwards an opportunity to kick a score.”

Goodes led from the front in a vintage performance that netted the dual Brownlow-medalist 34 possessions - 20 of which were contested possessions - ten marks, ten inside-50s, five clearances, three scoring assists and two goals.

“To be able to go out there and lead the boys in a four quarter effort was pleasing from my point of view,” Goodes said.

“We can enjoy the couple of days off, get back into training on Thursday, and really prepare ourselves for the next five or six games to the end of the season.”

After this weekend’s bye, the Swans will return to the field on Saturday August 6 from 7.10pm against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.