Sydney Swans utility Robbie Fox says a midweek back-to-basics chat was the catalyst for his season-best performance on Saturday afternoon.

After having averaged 22 disposals over his first two outings of the season, the Tasmanian posted 37 touches and three goals in a best-on-ground display as Sydney toppled GWS by 45 points.

Fox’s stellar outing inspired the Swans to a fourth-straight win to start the season, and the 26-year-old said it was a chat with his coaches that sparked the surge in form.

“I had a conversation with a few of the coaches last week, and I was trying to do too much which resulted in me playing some average footy,” Fox told SwansTV.

“So I just stripped my game back to the basics on the weekend and really went after the footy.

“You feel good when you come back to the club on Monday after playing a good game, and the aim is to now build on that form.”

Sydney’s win has set up a top-of-the-table battle with the ladder-leading Brisbane Lions.

The Swans have overcome the Gold Coast Suns, Redland Bombers and twice the Giants over the opening month of football, and a duel with the Lions at Brisbane’s South Pine Sports Complex on Saturday now awaits.

With Colin O’Riordan (40 possessions), Darcy Cameron (24 disposals, 27 hit-outs, one goal) and Sam Wicks (18 touches, 11 tackles, two goals) all having fired in the percentage-boosting victory over the Giants, there’s a number of Swans riding momentum in the lead-up to the Lions clash.

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy top-ups also continued to shine, with big-framed forward John Pawle the pick of the lot in a three-goal return.

Fox said a team-wide effort was crucial to Saturday’s Sydney Derby victory.

“It was a good win by the boys. The senior boys really stepped up, like Darcy Cameron and Colin O’Riordan, and then the younger boys followed,” Fox said.

“Sam Wicks and Ryley Stoddart played great footy, and the Academy boys played hard and played their roles.

“The big thing was maintaining high standards for four quarters. In other weeks we had been doing it for one, two or three quarters, and we’d struggle during certain patches, but we kept it up for four quarters on Saturday, which was very pleasing.”