The contest was tight for most of the day until the Swans ran away in the final term.
Sydney kicked 13. 18 (96) to the Brisbane Lions' 10.9 (69).
The game was billed as the clash between Jonathan Brown and Barry Hall, with the two power forwards delivering early.
It was an old-fashioned shoot out to begin the match with Hall and Brown each booting three goals, including Brown’s 200th career goal.
At the half-time break, Sydney led 7.6 (48) to the Lions' 7.3 (45).The Lions got the jump on Sydney in the second half with goals to Ben Fixter, Ashley McGrath and Scott Harding.
With the game in the balance, the Swans took hold and ran away with the match.
McGrath kicked three majors for Brisbane in a lively display, while Richard Hadley did a superb job on Adam Goodes after two years ruined by knee injuries.
The Lions lost to the Swans for the sixth straight time, but Lions coach Leigh Matthews was taking plenty of positives out of the game.
"I thought for three quarters we were really good against a side that is well proven at playing the high-pressure, intense footy," he said.
"I thought we more than matched them for three quarters but our energy levels dropped away and our last quarter was very poor.
"But it proved this group can play in that pressure, not so much skill, but the high pressure game, but you've got to be able to do it for four quarters."
SYDNEY 5.3 7.6 8.10 13.18 (96)
BRISBANE 4.3 7.4 10.8 10.9 (69)
Goals: Sydney: B Hall 4 M O'Loughlin 3 T Schmidt 2 A Schneider B Mathews R O'Keefe L Barry. Brisbane: J Brown 3 A McGrath 3 J Patfull C Begley B Fixter S Harding.
Best: Sydney: B Hall A Schneider A Buchanan N Fosdike D Jolly. Brisbane: A McGrath J Brown L Power S Black B Fixter.
Umpires: B Allen C Kamolins S Meredith.
Official crowd: 24,854 at the SCG.SYDNEY 5.3 7.6 8.10 13.18 (96)
BRISBANE 4.3 7.4 10.8 10.9 (69)
Goals: Sydney: B Hall 4 M O'Loughlin 3 T Schmidt 2 A Schneider B Mathews R O'Keefe L Barry. Brisbane: J Brown 3 A McGrath 3 J Patfull C Begley B Fixter S Harding.
Best: Sydney: B Hall A Schneider A Buchanan N Fosdike D Jolly. Brisbane: A McGrath J Brown L Power S Black B Fixter.
Umpires: B Allen C Kamolins S Meredith.
Official crowd: 24,854 at the SCG.
