The Swans led by 24 points at half time but the Blues booted five unanswered goals in the third quarter to lead by seven points at the last change.
First-year forward Trent Dennis-Lane proved the matchwinner in the final quarter, booting two of the Swans’ three goals as they triumphed, 14.15 (99) to 13.16 (94).
Josh Kennedy played his best game for the Swans, Brett Kirk completely blanketed Kade Simpson and Dennis-Lane finished with four crucial goals.
Carlton skipper Chris Judd turned the game with a brilliant third term, while Marc Murphy was damaging through the midfield and Andrew Walker booted three goals as a defensive forward.
The Swans deserved their half-time lead after a blistering start to the game that reaped the first four goals. Kirk and Kennedy were dominant at the clearances, while Judd was engaged in an absorbing duel with Kieren Jack.
However, Ryan O’Keefe moved to Judd at the start of the third quarter and the Carlton skipper took full advantage of the reprieve to spark a stirring fightback.
He racked up 10 touches and six clearances for the term and directly set up at least two goals as the Blues played the game entirely on their own terms to take a deserved lead at three-quarter time.
The free-flowing football of the first half was a distant memory in a scrappy final quarter, characterised by skill errors from both sides.
Dennis-Lane levelled the scores midway through the quarter with his third goal of the day before an enthralling end-to-end struggle ensued.
Judd and Paul Bevan both squandered chances to break the deadlock before O’Keefe’s snap put the Swans in front with five minutes to play.
Dennis-Lane put the Swans 12 points up after a desperate tackle on Dennis Armfield, but Lachlan Henderson scrambled a late major with a minute to play to ensure a nervous finish.
Jeff Garlett could have stolen the game for the visitors but his running shot drifted left and the Swans ran down the clock to extend the careers of coach Paul Roos and Kirk by at least one more week.
Sydney Swans 6.6 11.8 11.11 14.15 (99)
Carlton 4.3 7.8 12.12 13.16 (94)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Dennis-Lane 4, Bevan 3, Shaw 2, Jack, White, Goodes, Jetta, O'Keefe
Carlton: Walker 3, Waite 3, Warnock 2, Garlett 2, Henderson 2, Murphy
BEST
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Goodes, Kirk, Dennis-Lane, Shaw, Smith
Carlton: Judd, Waite, Walker, Jacobs, Carazzo, Murphy
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Carlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Jeffery, McInerney
Official crowd: 41,596
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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
