A stunning five-goal performance from Billy Cootee has inspired the Swans to a hard-fought 16-point victory over the Brisbane Lions in wet conditions at Tramway Oval.

Cootee produced arguably his best performance of the VFL season so far, recording 18 disposals, five goals and 13 tackles to help the red and white to a grinding 11.12.(78) to 9.8.(62) win.

He was helped by other starring displays from Harry Kyle (30 disposals), Tom Hanily (22 disposals, seven tackles), and Jesse Dattoli (22 disposals, three goals, six tackles), while QBE Sydney Swans Academy talent Henry Meaney produced an amazing VFL debut, with 15 disposals eight tackles of his own.

The addition of Joel Hamilng (14 disposals), Kyle, Hanily and Cleary (23 disposals) provided plenty of experience in the dying stages, as the Lions continued to fight and made the Swans earn every part of their victory.

It was a game that saw the Swans dominate the opening stages with back-to-back goals to Cootee, before Datolli also made his presence felt with two majors of his own.

Some relentless tackle pressure was at the core of the impressive start, with the Swans recording 60 alone in the first half. They were lead by Harry Meaney who laid eight of his _____ tackles in the first half, while Cootee also recorded seven of his own.

Kyle and Bowman were also busy throughout the first two quarters, recording 16 and 14 disposals respectively. 

Heavy downpour ensured a heavily contested match from start to finish, particularly in the second-half where the rain increased.

Goal to Oscar Clifton, Tom Ryan and Charlie Peters in the fourth quarter allowed a handy buffer for the Swans and ensured the Lions last-gasp efforts were to no avail.

There are just three games remaining in the VFL season, with the Swans sitting third on the competition ladder, and will set their sights on a blockbuster Derby against GWS next Saturday afternoon.