At the 10-minute mark of the second quarter the Swans trailed the determined Dogs by 17 points, before slamming on the next 10 goals.
Watch match highlights on the media player above.
They would eventually win 26.11 (167) to 13.7 (85).
The Swans rebounded strongly from their narrow loss to Collingwood last round, piling on 23 goals to eight after quarter-time to record their highest score since round 15, 2007.
View the the best photos from the match at afl.com.au
In the face of an overwhelming tide, Griffen amassed 47 disposals, eclipsing the previous club record of 46 by Simon Atkins against Fitzroy in 1992 (and passing his own previous best of 37 by three-quarter-time).
Canadian-born ruckman Mike Pyke played his best game for the Swans, kicking three goals and hauling in four contested marks before being subbed off early in the last quarter with a left ankle injury.
Swans superstar Adam Goodes also showed glimpses of form in the second half, finishing with 22 disposals and 3.1.
The Swans were almost unbackable favourites - understandable given it was top versus 15th - but for much of the first half it appeared they would become the third top-three side to suffer an upset defeat in the space of just 24 hours (following losses to Collingwood and the Adelaide Crows on Saturday night - results that have given the Swans outright top spot.)
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney believed his side made the Swans fight harder than many had expected.
"I don't think it (the margin) was truly reflective (of the contest). And in no way am I being disrespectful to Sydney - they are a fantastic footy team," he said.
"The intensity and effort we showed for quite a bit of the game has to be the cornerstone of our game."
The Bulldogs' early resistance was no surprise to Swans coach John Longmire.
"Upsets can happen and [just] because you're in a game against a team outside the top eight, it doesn't mean you're automatically going to win," he said post-match.
"You've still got to give really strong effort and we knew coming into the game it was probably one of, if not the, best Bulldogs teams named this year.
"We were concerned going into the game that we had to make sure we brought to the table significant effort."
In front of a crowd of 19,396, the Bulldogs produced their best first quarter for the season, kicking six goals against the normally miserly Swans to lead by three goals at the first break.
At one point the Dogs' kicking efficiency was 80 per cent to their opponents' mere 44, as their precision, pace and pressure reigned.
The game took on a completely different complexion midway through the second quarter as the sluggish Swans lifted their intensity and put the result beyond doubt by midway through the third term.
The Dogs rallied with contributions from Dylan Addison (four goals) and Tory Dickson (three) to get back within 33 points early in the last quarter before the Swans piled on nine of the last 10 goals.
The fadeout was a familiar tale for the Dogs, who have lost their past nine games by an average of 61 points.
For the Swans, the usual suspects - Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack, Ryan O'Keefe and Dan Hannebery - were solid, while the Dogs received terrific service from Liam Picken, who kept Lewis Jetta to just 13 touches and one goal, skipper Matthew Boyd (35 disposals) and youngster Clay Smith (23).
The long-awaited return of Bulldogs Brownlow medalist Adam Cooney was an anti-climax. After starting the game as the substitute, he came on late in the third term and had little impact.
The Swans now face a tough time holding onto top spot with their final two minor-round clashes being against Hawthorn (at the SCG) and Geelong (Simonds Stadium).
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.2 8.3 11.5 13.7 (85)
SYDNEY SWANS 3.2 10.5 16.9 26.11 (167)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Addison 4, Dickson 3, Giansiracusa 2, Cordy, Johannisen, Lake, Picken
Sydney Swans: Goodes 3, Mumford 3, Pyke 3, Roberts-Thomson 3, Hannebery 2, McGlynn 2, O'Keefe 2, Reid 2, Jack, Jetta, Kennedy, McVeigh, Morton, Parker
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Boyd, Smith, Dickson, Addison, Jong
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Jack, Pyke, Goodes, Parker, O'Keefe, Roberts-Thomson, Grundy
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Sydney Swans: Pyke (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Adam Cooney replaced Ayce Cordy in the third quarter
Sydney Swans: Mitch Morton replaced Mike Pyke in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Mollison, Bannister
Official crowd: 19,396 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
They would eventually win 26.11 (167) to 13.7 (85).
The Swans rebounded strongly from their narrow loss to Collingwood last round, piling on 23 goals to eight after quarter-time to record their highest score since round 15, 2007.
View the the best photos from the match at afl.com.au
In the face of an overwhelming tide, Griffen amassed 47 disposals, eclipsing the previous club record of 46 by Simon Atkins against Fitzroy in 1992 (and passing his own previous best of 37 by three-quarter-time).
Canadian-born ruckman Mike Pyke played his best game for the Swans, kicking three goals and hauling in four contested marks before being subbed off early in the last quarter with a left ankle injury.
Swans superstar Adam Goodes also showed glimpses of form in the second half, finishing with 22 disposals and 3.1.
The Swans were almost unbackable favourites - understandable given it was top versus 15th - but for much of the first half it appeared they would become the third top-three side to suffer an upset defeat in the space of just 24 hours (following losses to Collingwood and the Adelaide Crows on Saturday night - results that have given the Swans outright top spot.)
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney believed his side made the Swans fight harder than many had expected.
"I don't think it (the margin) was truly reflective (of the contest). And in no way am I being disrespectful to Sydney - they are a fantastic footy team," he said.
"The intensity and effort we showed for quite a bit of the game has to be the cornerstone of our game."
The Bulldogs' early resistance was no surprise to Swans coach John Longmire.
"Upsets can happen and [just] because you're in a game against a team outside the top eight, it doesn't mean you're automatically going to win," he said post-match.
"You've still got to give really strong effort and we knew coming into the game it was probably one of, if not the, best Bulldogs teams named this year.
"We were concerned going into the game that we had to make sure we brought to the table significant effort."
In front of a crowd of 19,396, the Bulldogs produced their best first quarter for the season, kicking six goals against the normally miserly Swans to lead by three goals at the first break.
At one point the Dogs' kicking efficiency was 80 per cent to their opponents' mere 44, as their precision, pace and pressure reigned.
The game took on a completely different complexion midway through the second quarter as the sluggish Swans lifted their intensity and put the result beyond doubt by midway through the third term.
The Dogs rallied with contributions from Dylan Addison (four goals) and Tory Dickson (three) to get back within 33 points early in the last quarter before the Swans piled on nine of the last 10 goals.
The fadeout was a familiar tale for the Dogs, who have lost their past nine games by an average of 61 points.
For the Swans, the usual suspects - Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack, Ryan O'Keefe and Dan Hannebery - were solid, while the Dogs received terrific service from Liam Picken, who kept Lewis Jetta to just 13 touches and one goal, skipper Matthew Boyd (35 disposals) and youngster Clay Smith (23).
The long-awaited return of Bulldogs Brownlow medalist Adam Cooney was an anti-climax. After starting the game as the substitute, he came on late in the third term and had little impact.
The Swans now face a tough time holding onto top spot with their final two minor-round clashes being against Hawthorn (at the SCG) and Geelong (Simonds Stadium).
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.2 8.3 11.5 13.7 (85)
SYDNEY SWANS 3.2 10.5 16.9 26.11 (167)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Addison 4, Dickson 3, Giansiracusa 2, Cordy, Johannisen, Lake, Picken
Sydney Swans: Goodes 3, Mumford 3, Pyke 3, Roberts-Thomson 3, Hannebery 2, McGlynn 2, O'Keefe 2, Reid 2, Jack, Jetta, Kennedy, McVeigh, Morton, Parker
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Boyd, Smith, Dickson, Addison, Jong
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Jack, Pyke, Goodes, Parker, O'Keefe, Roberts-Thomson, Grundy
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Sydney Swans: Pyke (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Adam Cooney replaced Ayce Cordy in the third quarter
Sydney Swans: Mitch Morton replaced Mike Pyke in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Mollison, Bannister
Official crowd: 19,396 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
