Sydney sits inside the top-four with a fifth win in a row as North Melbourne ran out of steam despite Nick Larkey's big day.
The 88-126 win sees John Longmire’s men move up to fourth on the ladder with just two games left.
The Swans came into the clash heavily fancied after four wins on the trot and were challenged early by a fearless North side who played with flair and effort.
Although the sheer class of Sydney shone through as, despite one of the best halves of footy for the year for the Roos, they still found themselves 27 points down at the main break.
The gap widened in the third term as the red and white pilled on six goals to three to make it a 46-point margin at three-quarter time and put the game to bed, although to the Kangaroos' credit they won the last quarter by 13 points.
Isaac Heeney (two goals, 21 disposals) and Tom Papley (three goals, 16 disposals) were hugely influential throughout the day, as Lance Franklin (four goals) responded to the week of headlines with a great day at the office.
Luke Parker led the way from the source and collected 29 disposals and nine tackles while being generously supported by Callum Mills (23 touches, six clearances) and James Rowbottom (22 touches, six tackles).
The three votes on the day will go to Chad Warner (three goals, 20 disposals), though, who is shaping into the mould of an attacking mid/forward weapon that every club desires.
Tom Hickey (20 disposals, 37 hit-outs) and Todd Goldstein (19 disposals, 20 hit-outs) shared the honours as both had moments of brilliance throughout the afternoon.
Nick Larkey was enormous with an equal career-high seven goals. He was fed well by Luke Davies-Uniacke (one goal, 29 disposals), Jaidyn Stephenson (31 disposals, eight marks) and Jy Simpkin (32 touches, six inside 50s) as Aaron Hall (one goal, 20 disposals) enjoyed a solid outing with a Ryan Clarke tag.
Midway through the final term, Cam Zurhaar collected Nick Blakey late in an incident that may be looked at by the MRO.
North Melbourne travels to face Adelaide next Saturday afternoon while the Swans host the hot Magpies at the SCG in an attempt to end their 11-game win streak.
FULL SCORE
North Melbourne: 2.0, 5.1, 8.5, 13.10 (88)
Sydney: 4.5, 8.10, 14.15, 18.18 (126)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Larkey 7, Zurhaar 2, Coleman-Jones, Hall, Davies-Uniacke, Taylor
Sydney: Franklin 4, Papley 3, Warner 3, Reid 2, Heeney 2, McDonald 2, Hayward, Gulden
BEST
North Melbourne: Nick Larkey, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jaidyn Stephenson, Todd Goldstein, Jy Simpkin
Sydney: Chad Warner, Luke Parker, James Rowbottom, Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, Lance Franklin, Tom Hickey
INJURIES
North Melbourne: n/a
Sydney: n/a