The errant Blues had their chances to take control in the first half but they failed to do so, allowing the home side to capitalise with four unanswered goals in the second quarter.
Those lapses proved costly in a contest that lived up to pre-game predictions of a hard-fought scrimmage.
The Swans won 12.12 (84) to 9.13 (67) in front of a good crowd of 30,834.
Jarrad McVeigh finished with three goals and kept Carlton skipper Chris Judd’s influence to a minimum, Heath Grundy was a strong target at centre half-forward and Rhyce Shaw was industrious off half-back.
The Blues were best served by centre half-back Jarrad Waite, fellow defender Bret Thornton and onballer Marc Murphy. Eddie Betts kicked three second-half goals.
Spearhead Brendan Fevola managed just 1.4 for the afternoon after kicking 4.7 last weekend against Essendon, and he appeared listless at times, failing to score after half time.
Carlton trailed by 14 points early in the third term and after going goalless for the best part of 45 minutes, the visitors needed a lift.
Judd provided it, reading a marking contest better than three others on the wing and firing out a 30m handpass under pressure. Marc Murphy ran on to the dribbling ball and his cool snap broke the drought.
It was a brief respite for the Blues.
Makeshift forward Jesse White notched a regulation mark-and-lead goal before McVeigh set the SCG crowd alight with his third goal, a classy snap on the run from 35m.
When Craig Bird baulked around two defenders and kicked truly from 45m, the Swans were five goals up and cruising.
It didn’t last long as successive Carlton goals to Betts and Cameron Cloke from long, speculative balls inside 50 cut the margin to 19 points at the last change.
The opening exchanges of the final term were as desperate as they were unproductive.
It took a clever piece of roving from Betts to break the stalemate after 15 minutes, bringing the Blues within three goals with 10 minutes to go.
The Swans looked to have the match sewn up when Jude Bolton and Luke Ablett both kicked truly, but late majors to Betts and Kade Simpson made for a nervous finish.
Earlier, the Carlton midfield looked sharper than the Swans but it was Darren Jolly, playing his 100th game for club, who booted the first goal.
The Blues soon took the ascendancy through Fevola’s first major and an outrageous dribbling goal from Ryan Houlihan from the forward pocket.
The Swans struggled to find a forward target in Hall’s absence, with Goodes playing midfield and Jesse White held by Bret Thornton.
Marty Mattner pulled one back for the Swans with a well-weighted snap but Judd replied immediately, drawing his third opponent in McVeigh after bettering Shaw and Brett Kirk early.
Carlton looked set for a comfortable two-goal lead at the first change but Ed Barlow’s goal after the siren cut the gap to just five points.
The Swans had the lead 10 minutes into the second term through Jarred Moore and first-gamer Kristin Thornton, who joined the ranks of those to boot a goal with his first kick in AFL football.
Judd’s influence was curbed by McVeigh and Paul Bevan as the Swans midfield began to exert its customary pressure.
Goodes had shifted into attack and his presence straightened the Swans up through the middle, but the outstanding Waite generally had his measure.
The Blues squandered several chances to add to their tally and McVeigh made them pay after a slick assist from Ryan O’Keefe.
He added another within a minute to put the Swans firmly in control, 14 points up at half time.
Sydney Swans 3.0 7.2 10.7 12.12 (84)
Carlton 3.5 3.12 6.12 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: McVeigh 3, Jolly, Mattner, Barlow, Moore, Thornton, White, Bird, J. Bolton, Ablett
Carlton: Betts 3, Fevola, Houlihan, Judd, Murphy, Cloke, Simpson
BEST
Sydney Swans: McVeigh, Shaw, Grundy, Roberts-Thomson, J. Bolton, C. Bolton
Carlton: Waite, Thornton, Betts, Murphy, Judd, Stevens
Injuries: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Margetts, Stevic
Official crowd: 30,834 at the SCG
