Charlie Curnow is in the hunt for a third Coleman Medal after booting six goals to fire Sydney to a 35-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

It was deja vu for the Dogs, with Curnow slamming through four first-half goals at the SCG as the Swans outclassed the visitors 13.12 (90) to 7.13 (55).

Curnow had been the Bulldogs' tormentor in round seven, finishing with seven goals in Sydney's 66-point demolition job.

After Friday's haul in front of 35,227 fans, the 29-year-old is the leading goalkicker with 44 goals - ahead of Gold Coast's Ben King (43).

Second-placed Sydney (13-3) returned to their winning ways after a dismal 43-point loss to the Brisbane Lions, despite six personnel changes for the club's annual Pride Game.

Swans coach Dean Cox was forced to make four through injury - Joel Amartey (Achilles), Logan McDonald (quad), Pete Ladhams (groin) and Sam Wicks (hamstring).

"It's tough to play the way you were at the start of the season for a whole season," Cox said.

"We've got to build belief and some experience in those games that we're good enough to match the best, and when we play a certain way we don't have to only play one way."

The eighth-placed Western Bulldogs (9-7) fell short in a finals litmus test and injuries to defenders Connor Budarick (ankle syndesmosis) and Nick Coffield (concussion) only add to their woes.

Budarick was forced out of the game in the second quarter, while a diving Coffield was hit in the back of the head by Swans midfielder Chad Warner's knee.

"They were by far and away the better side," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"You just learn things about the brutality and the ferocity required in the game at different times

"I just think that they had an edge."

The Dogs will also be sweating on the match review officer's verdict of Matthew Kennedy's high bump on Sydney opponent Caiden Cleary.

Matthew Kennedy gave away a free kick for this incident involving Caiden Cleary.#AFLSwansDogs pic.twitter.com/6Klye4SkKa? AFL (@AFL) July 3, 2026

Kennedy gave away a free kick in the second quarter, though Cleary was able to finish the game.

Sydney tagger James Jordon was superb in nullifying Marcus Bontempelli, who had just 10 disposals at half-time.

The Dogs captain finished with 19 touches, while Bailey Dale and Ed Richards were shining lights for the away side.

Curnow wasn't the only multiple Swans goalscorer, with key forward Hayden McLean - after biding his time in the VFL - finishing with a haul of three.

Brodie Grundy (61 hitouts) again dominated in the ruck, with usual stars Isaac Heeney (one goal), Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey getting plenty of the ball.

The Swans were in complete control from the outset, overwhelming Beveridge's side to kick five unanswered goals in the opening term.

From just nine forward entries, the Bulldogs could only manage two points - with Aaron Naughton missing completely from a close-range set shot.

Curnow slotted his fourth major to kick off the second quarter, before Dale responded to end the Dogs' goal drought.

Forwards Ryley Sanders - in his 50th game - and Arty Jones also helped reduce the margin to 27 points at halftime.

Goals were at a premium in a scrappy third term.

The Bulldogs stuck fat and slotted three majors to Sydney's two before the final break, but back-to-back goals from Curnow snuffed out the late challenge.