The lead changed several times throughout the game before Michael O’Loughlin kicked the game-sealing goal deep into time-on in the final term to hand the Swans victory, 15.10 (100) to 13.7 (85).
Ryan O’Keefe (36 touches) and Brett Kirk (37) were outstanding in midfield for the Swans, while Kieren Jack limited Brent Harvey’s influence and Lewis Roberts-Thomson was too good for Drew Petrie.
Josh Gibson was North Melbourne’s best with a superb job on Adam Goodes, Andrew Swallow (two goals) was important around the clearances and Adam Simpson (26 touches) won plenty of the ball.
Neither side produced a standout goalkicker, with Corey Jones the most prolific with three first-half majors.
The Roos started brightly with two of the first three goals, including a gem from Leigh Harding from the boundary line.
North could have been further in front had Jones and David Hale kicked accurately and the Swans made them pay later in the term.
Patrick Veszpremi provided a hard-running target across half-forward and goals to Jude Bolton and O’Loughlin followed late in the term, leaving the Swans a point up at quarter time.
It took just three minutes for North to erase that lead with the first two goals of the second term, with precious little opposition.
It took a piece of O’Loughlin magic to conjure the Swans’ response, squaring the ball under pressure to Ed Barlow who converted from 15m out, directly in front.
North continued to generate scoring chances with far greater ease than the home side but Hale continued to burn his opportunities.
Barlow began to exert considerable influence at the other end and added his second major of the term to restore the Swans’ one-point lead.
But the Roos’ weight of clean possession was telling and they added the next three goals – with Jones slotting two – to lead by 17 points with five minutes to play.
Late majors to Ted Richards and Jude Bolton cut North’s advantage to five points at the long break.
Roberts-Thomson started the third term in unusual fashion with a rare goal, edging the Swans in front.
But it served only to stir the Roos into action and they added the next two through Lachie Hansen and the excellent Swallow.
With Goodes well held by Gibson, the Swans needed some sort of spark and Veszpremi provided it.
The livewire forward set up Rhyce Shaw for a long set-shot goal and followed up with one of his own for the highlight reel.
O’Loughlin and Jude Bolton flew for a high ball and Veszpremi hit the spillage at full pace, steadying long enough to thread a left-foot snap from the boundary. His ensuing celebration in front of the Swans’ faithful was spectacular.
When O’Keefe’s long shot found the mark five minutes later, the Swans led by seven points – a margin they maintained at the last change.
Both sides shared the first four goals of the last quarter before Hansen’s strong mark and goal reduced the Swans’ lead to a point midway through the term.
Craig Bird put the home side a goal up and Leigh Harding could have levelled the scores with five minutes to play but his running shot from 30m drifted left.
It was left to Swans veteran O’Loughlin to seal the game with a trademark snap over his shoulder, leaving North to rue what might have been.
Sydney Swans 3.4 7.6 11.7 15.10 (100)
North Melbourne 3.3 8.5 10.6 13.7 (85)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Barlow 2, J Bolton 2, Goodes 2, Bird 2, O’Loughlin 2, Richards, Roberts-Thomson, Shaw, Veszpremi, O’Keefe,
North Melbourne: Jones 3, Harding 2, Swallow 2, Firrito 2, Hansen 2, Harris, Ross
BEST
Sydney Swans: O’Keefe, Jack, Kirk, Roberts-Thomson, McVeigh, Grundy
North Melbourne: Gibson, Simpson, Swallow, Firrito, Pratt
Injuries
Sydney Swans: McVeigh (hamstring)
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Ryan, Schmitt
Official crowd: 21,929 at the SCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
Vote for your best on ground now - Carlton Natural Blonde People’s Champion
