JOHN Longmire has praised Sydney's elite efficiency as the defining factor in his side's ability to put St Kilda to the sword with a rampant opening quarter on Saturday night.

The Swans kicked nine unanswered goals to start the match, doing so from just 13 entries in the first term, to put a significant 48-point gap on the Saints by quarter time.

The visitors had control of the contest from then on, continuing to make the most of their forays forward in a convincing 71-point win at Etihad Stadium.

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But while the Swans coach wouldn't be drawn on whether the victory was his side's most complete performance of the season, he praised its attacking intent from the outset.

"It was obviously our most efficient quarter for the year," Longmire said after the game.

"That was with plenty of energy and plenty of efficiency with the ball. We've still got a few things to tidy up on, but it was certainly a pretty effective first quarter."

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While St Kilda was virtually put to bed by quarter time, they continued to fight throughout the remainder of the match and ultimately won the inside 50 count on the night.

An inability to stop St Kilda from getting the ball forward will now be Sydney's main focus heading into a highly anticipated clash with ladder leaders West Coast at the SCG next Friday night.

"We need to be a little bit better with that and tighten that up a bit," Longmire said.

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"They were able to transfer the ball a bit too easily at times, so we can get that a bit better.

"We stood up when it got in there, which was important, but it gives us something to work on."

Sydney has now won five straight games to secure its spot inside the top four, though Longmire refused to say whether the Swans were beginning to hit their straps.

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"We probably don't think about that too much," he said.

"It's very much about putting one foot in front of the other. We might have had a little bit of criticism as to how we've been going to this point.

WATCH: John Longmire's full post-match press conference

"If you listen to that outside … you end up too up and down. You need to be pretty steady and worry about what you need to get right every week and rewarding the stuff you do get right.

"There was some really good stuff tonight, which was good, but there's plenty to work on."