The 17.8.120 to 12.14.86 win comes after the Bulldogs defeated Rutherglen last weekend, leaving co-coach Peter Copley to rue the timing of the interleague bye.

“We'd probably like to still be playing footy next week,” Copley said.

“We had a bit of a slow start, but the last couple of weeks have been really good.”

The Bulldogs had their chances to take the game away from the Swans as early as the first quarter but were wasteful in front of goal, finishing the quarter with six goals and seven behinds.

It was enough to give the Swans a sniff, and after being implored by coach Mark Doolan to lift at quarter time, they did so in the second quarter.

Chiltern kicked three goals to one and trailed by just 17 at the half, and started the third quarter with a bang.

They kicked the opening three goals to seize the lead midway through the third quarter, before the Bulldogs clicked into gear.

Goals to Lucas Mellier and Todd Miller stopped the rot and pushed Thurgoona back into the lead, and they didn’t give in from there.

Miller kicked crunch goals in the third quarter and early in the fourth to give the Dogs some breathing room, finishing with five to be among the best for his side.

Big man Adam Way troubled the Swans all day with his height, while Jayden Kotzur and Ben Lloyd also performed well.

Doolan booted six goals for the Swans in a strong display up forward, while youngster Ben Harding played his best game for the club.

“We should have put them away in the first quarter, we had a lot of opportunities,” Copley said.

“They have to come from a fair way back now at 2-5, we knew that they were always going to have a crack.

“We had to go back to basics (in the middle of the game) and play more accountable footy, they like to move it around and play more of a possession game.

“We probably needed a little bit more discipline as well.” 

In other round seven matches, Beechworth came within a whisker of causing the upset of the season. 

The resurgent Bushrangers led at every change, but were held goalless by reigning premiers Tallangatta in the final quarter, going down by just three points. 

Kiewa-Sandy Creek were too good for the wasteful Barnawartha, with the Tigers booting 9.16 to the Hawks’ 13.13 to go down by 21 points.

Mitta held off the fast-finishing Wahgunyah, while Yackandandah and Rutherglen thumped Dederang and Wodonga Saints respectively.