Dysfunctional they may be off the field, but West Coast proved they are still the best functioning outfit on the grass with yet another thrilling one-point win over Sydney in their opening match of the AFL season.

It was billed as the grand final rematch and the Telstra Stadium nailbiter was indeed a carbon copy of the premiership decider, with Sydney storming home from a 36-point halftime deficit to fall short 11.8 (74) to 10.13 (73).

Just as he did in the grand final, Adam Goodes kicked the first early goal of the final quarter to put Sydney right back in the match and cut the margin back to 13 points.

Eagles ruckman Mark Seaby appeared to put the match beyond the Swans with a goal in the 11th minute to restore the Eagles' 19-point lead, but three goals in four minutes to Sean Dempster, Peter Everitt and Simon Phillips narrowed the margin to one point and the crowd of 62,586 were again on the edge of their seats.

West Coast on-baller Daniel Kerr laid the match saving tackle with a minute to go and the clubs recorded their third one-point match in a row. A total of 13 points have separated the sides in their last six matches.

It may have been another tiny margin, but it was the biggest statement the Eagles could possibly make following their tumultuous past month.

After a pre-season mired in drugs, alleged criminal connections and scandal, the Eagles put all that aside in a brilliant first half to dominate the flat looking Swans.

The premiers looked untroubled, and even inspired, by the drugs scandal surrounding Ben Cousins and the absence of six other premiership players to outlast Sydney in a match with remarkable similarities to last year's grand final.

Already without the disgraced Cousins, who is in the US receiving treatment for his drug addiction, and the injured Chad Fletcher, West Coast suffered a huge blow before the game when ruckman Dean Cox and midfielder Andrew Embley were ruled out.

But even without four gun players, the premiers were lacking nothing in skill, structure and speed.

Although they may have lacked a little in match fitness, kicking only one goal in the second half.

That goal by Seaby from direct and purposeful delivery from the midfield summed up the difference between the teams.

West Coast did away with their usual man-on-man game and played the Swans at their own game, flooding the backline and keeping an open forward line.

Adam Hunter used the space to kick two goals in the first quarter, while Michael Braun ran into an empty forward 50 to kick another, setting up a 6.0 (36) to 3.4 (22) quarter-time lead.

Looking into a crowded forward line, the Swans delivery was poor and although they had plenty of opportunity, they were kept goal-less in the second quarter as West Coast skipper Chris Judd kicked two and collected effective possessions as only he can.

Just as Judd drove the Eagles in a dominant second quarter, Sydney skipper Brett Kirk inspired the home team's comeback.

He kicked the first goal of the third term and the Swans rediscovered their run and direction, although were still wasting opportunities.

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