Key forward Josh Kennedy says West Coast must beat a ‘quality side’ in the Swans this weekend in Geelong, as they look to rectify last Sunday’s lost midfield battle with the Bulldogs.

The Eagles were knocked down by 55-points at Optus Stadium in their biggest home loss of the season, but managed to retain seventh position on the ladder.

This weekend will be a prime opportunity bounce back from defeat, and tally another away win on the board against six-placed Sydney in the back half of the year.

“They’re a quality side, and we haven’t been able to match them in the last couple of years, so looking forward to that challenge,” Kennedy told 6PR.

“We know where we need to step up and get to, we’ve been inconsistent in quarters.

“It’s still just trying to manage, get that consistency over four quarters in what we want to do, because the best do it.”

Last Sunday, the Bulldogs put a serious dent in the Eagles early in the match, despite inaccuracy taking them into the first break with eight behinds.

Led by the onball brigade of Marcus Bontempelli (29 disposals, seven tackles, 10 clearances, three goals), Jack Macrae (32 disposals, seven clearances) and Bailey Smith (31 disposals, five tackles, six clearances, two goals), the Bulldogs’ engine room was unbreakable, despite the Eagles comeback mission in the second and third quarters.

“We kind of fell down in a few areas, it was obviously disappointing, you look at where we need to get to match it with the best, and the Bullies are one of the best at the moment in what they do,” Kennedy said.

“We had a couple of good quarters, probably the second and third that were okay, but the first and last is probably where they opened us up a bit.

“They were able to kind of beat around the ground and in the contest, which they’re really, really good at.

“They’re the benchmark of the competition, they’re a pretty good side.”