SAM REID'S career-high six-goal haul has led the Sydney Swans to a clinical 47-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the SCG on Saturday night and top spot on the AFL ladder.

Reid easily eclipsed his previous best of three goals as the Swans recorded a fifth straight win, 16.14 (110) to 9.9 (63), moving to 11-3 for the season and replacing old foes West Coast atop the ladder on percentage.

It sets up a sumptuous showdown with the second-placed Eagles at Patersons Stadium next Sunday.

Nick Malceski took advantage of his late call-up for Marty Mattner (groin), finishing with 29 possessions, while Jarrad McVeigh (34, two goals) was outstanding and Adam Goodes (22 possessions, three goals) took another step forward.

The Lions also suffered their own setback before the opening bounce, with Simon Black aggravating a knee problem in the warm-up and forced out of the match, with Claye Beams replacing Josh Green in the substitute's vest.

Jonathan Brown and Daniel Rich kicked two goals apiece, but both were otherwise well held by Heath Grundy and Craig Bird respectively, with Pearce Hanley tallying 34 disposals.

But it was a sobering reality check for the Lions, who had won four of their past six games and came into the match hopeful of showing how far they had come.

The Swans have become accustomed to making fast starts over the past month, but it was the Lions who bolted out of the blocks on a chilly afternoon.

The visitors kicked the opening three goals against a lethargic opposition, but a set shot from Goodes from 50m out awoke the Swans, who banged through four quick goals for a four-point quarter-time lead.

Rich kicked his first at the start of the second term before the home side found its stride, kicking five of the next six goals to open up a 31-point edge.

The Lions responded, Rich kicking his second before a Brown mark and goal nearing half-time kept them in it, trailing by 21 points at the main break.

But four Swans goals in the opening 10 minutes of the third quarter settled the outcome.


SYDNEY SWANS       4.2    10.7  15.12   16.14  (110)
BRISBANE LIONS    3.4     7.4     8.7      9.9      (63)
 
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Reid 6, Goodes 3, McVeigh 2, Jetta, Hannebery, McGlynn, Pyke, O'Keefe
Brisbane Lions: Karnezis 2, Rich 2, Brown 2, Raines, Bewick, Crisp
 
BEST
Sydney Swans: McVeigh, Malceski, Kennedy, Reid, Grundy, Goodes, Richards
Brisbane Lions: Adcock, Drummond, Hanley, Rich, Zorko
 
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Marty Mattner (groin) replaced in selectedside by Nick Malceski
Brisbane Lions: Simon Black (knee) replaced in selected side by Claye Beams
 
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Tony Armstrong replaced Alex Johnson in thefourth quarter
Brisbane Lions: Claye Beams replaced Josh Green in the third quarter
 
Umpires: Farmer, Leppard, Schmitt
 
Official crowd: 19,419 at the SCG
 
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs