Geelong scraped home 15.12 (102) to 14.16 (100) to remain unbeaten at the top of the AFL ladder despite losing in most key statistical categories.
"I thought they outplayed us," Cats coach Chris Scott conceded after the match.
"We were fortunate to be in front at the end of the game."
The Blues had 15 inside 50s to Geelong's nine in the final quarter of a constantly see-sawing match, and looked set to take victory when Warnock was collected high by Geelong defender Corey Enright in a marking contest deep in his team's forward line as the clock ticked past 26 minutes in the last term.
But the big ruckman couldn't convert a kick that would have put his team three points clear, instead registering Carlton's sixth behind of a final quarter in which it had nine scoring shots to Geelong's four.
Earlier, Scott's men had persisted in the face of periods of Carlton dominance, setting up their eighth consecutive win with a burst of three Travis Varcoe goals in the first 16 minutes of the third quarter, and three unanswered goals between the 14 and 21-minute mark of the final term.
Varcoe, teammate Steve Johnson and Carlton midfielder Kade Simpson were the game's leading goalkickers, each finishing with three.
James Kelly was a standout for the Cats, amassing 29 disposals and 11 clearances in a lion-hearted performance through the middle of the ground.
Kelly's star teammate Joel Selwood continued his fine form, also collecting 29 touches.
For Carlton, Heath Scotland (34 disposals, five clearances) and Marc Murphy (32 disposals, six clearances, one goal) were outstanding in a game that has confirmed the Blues as one of the competition's major threats.
The midfield duo's efforts were even more significant given skipper Chris Judd spent most of the second half in the forward line after having his mobility reduced by a sprained right ankle suffered in the second quarter.
The Cats' win continued the ladder leader's unbeaten record against Carlton at Etihad Stadium, a streak that now extends to nine games.
The stats
Every key indicator suggested Carlton should have won the match. The Blues laid 18 more tackles, had 10 more inside 50s - Geelong's first defeat in that stat in its past 20 matches at Etihad Stadium - and narrowly won both the contested and uncontested possession counts.
Carlton had six more clearances, 10 more disposals, and three more scoring shots, but the Blues weren't in front in the only figure that mattered when it came to deciding the four premiership points.
Influential players
Carlton’s leading possession-getters Scotland and Murphy were superb all night, as was key forward Jarrad Waite, whose attack on the contest and hard leading was let down only by some poor finishing, as he kicked 2.3.
For the Cats, Kelly's performance was his best yet in a superb season so far, and Johnson and Varcoe's combined six opportunist goals combined got Geelong over the line in a game where its key forwards were again kept quiet.
Magic moment
Carlton pulled off one of the plays of the season in an amazing end-to-end passage five minutes into the final quarter.
Cats small forward Mathew Stokes was dashing into an open goal when former teammate Jeremy Laidler chased him down and laid a desperate tackle to win a free kick.
As an exhausted Laidler gasped for air with hands on knees in the back pocket, the Blues took the ball down the other end, with Setanta O'hAilpin flying for a mark 45 metres out.
The ball spilled over the back of the big Irishman's head and was swooped upon by captain Judd.
The dual Brownlow medallist scooped the ball up with his left hand at full pace and, without breaking stride, curled a magnificent left-foot snap through the middle, bringing his team within a point.
What it means
Any doubts about Carlton as a top four candidate have been dispelled.
Given their current form, the Blues should monster their next three lowly-ranked opponents and firmly entrench themselves in the competition's top rung.
Geelong heads to the Gold Coast next week for its long-awaited meeting with former teammate Gary Ablett, and a win there will put coach Chris Scott within one victory of the all-time record for the longest start to a coaching career without a loss.
Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Scott said his team was lucky to beat the Blues, and the Dream Team points suggest he might be right. Carlton had three players score more than 100 points, with Scotland topping the scoring for the match with 128. The influential Murphy was good for 121 points, while Simpson’s three-goal effort earned him 112 points.
The best performance from a Cat was Selwood who ended the match with 122 points, while Paul Chapman managed 110. The next best was Johnson, who finished with 95 points.
Next four
Carlton: The Blues will start heavy favourites in their next three matches against Melbourne, Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions, with the Sydney Swans rounding off the month.
Geelong: The Cats travel to the Gold Coast next week for the inaugural match at Metricon Stadium and their first square-off against former golden boy Ablett. Then follow clashes with the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and St Kilda.
What the coaches said
Chris Scott (Geelong)
“We have had a few games this year where we were a bit fortunate to get over the line. I am not sure the ladder or our win-loss (ratio) is a fair reflection of the evenness of the competition, but we never expected to be playing our best football in round eight or nine. We believe that is to come.”
Brett Ratten (Carlton)
"It ticks another box to say we … really took it up to the Geelong footy club tonight, but I think the biggest thing is we missed out. If there was 10 things that we wanted to do tonight, we would have ticked seven or eight of those … but at the end, you've got to walk away and drive home and reflect that we didn't get the four points."
Geelong 2.3 8.6 12.11 15.12 (102)
Carlton 4.3 8.6 11.10 14.16 (100)
GOALS
Geelong: Varcoe 3, Johnson 3, Bartel 2, Stokes 2, Chapman 2, Ottens, Hawkins, Podsiadly
Carlton: Simpson 3, Walker 2, Waite 2, Garlett 2, Murphy, Judd, O’hAilpin, Betts, Duigan
BEST
Geelong: Selwood, Johnson, Chapman, Kelly, Varcoe
Carlton: Murphy, Simpson, Gibbs, Laidler, Scotland
INJURIES
Geelong: Vardy (calf)
Carlton: Judd (right foot)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Nathan Vardy (calf) replaced by David Wojcinski in the third quarter.
Carlton: Brock McLean replaced by Mitch Robinson in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Vozzo, Armstrong
Official crowd: 48,429 at Etihad Stadium
