But coach Ned Hyland did admit his rookie division-two side wanted on Sunday to make a bold statement in quelling the doubters.

The Swans made the early running and would never surrender a lead less than 14 points after quarter-time to win 19.10 (124) to 14.8 (92) at Invermay Park.

“It’s no secret that never everyone out there had been behind us getting into the league,” Hyland said.

“A lot of people rode us off and said we weren’t good enough to be there too.

“I think today, without getting ahead of ourselves, as it’s only one down and three to go, we’ve proved a few people wrong.”

What East Coast did prove that they were dangerous on the counter-attack and had forward options aplenty.

But leading goalkicker Nick Childs made the biggest impact of all, kicking six goals to move his tally out to 91 and now in sight of the magical 100-goal mark.

The playing coach was constantly a target across half-forward to add a further four goals, while Bailey Elmer unleashed some massive bombs to finish with three.

The Swans kicked six goals in the first term and another five in the second to pull out to a 26-point lead.

St Pats made their move early after half-time with the first two goals to Justin Whiley and Claye Young.

But the pacesetters goaled twice again within minutes to maintain a tenuous break throughout that term.

“I felt we controlled it for four quarters,” Hyland said.

“No doubt there was passages within those quarters that we did lose some of our momentum. But we were in charge from start to finish.

 “We were pretty depleted – there was fair bit of sickness around the place. So we had a few boys with the flu and a few late ring-ins step up.”

Charles Eastoe provided three goals for the Saints, but his forlorn side lacked impetus to concede in the last term with poor body language.

St Pats coach Alex Russell said the performance was “extremely disappointing”.

“We set ourselves to win this first final and push ourselves deep,” he said.

“I think we had a our chances, but we just couldn’t maintain our scoreboard pressure and close the gap.

“A credit to them – their top-end was just fantastic and their bottom-end was really good today.”