The Cats' first win at the SCG since 2002 was powered by established stars Paul Chapman (27 possessions and two goals), Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood and James Kelly who saw their side to the (81) to 7.12 (54) win.
Josh Kennedy (29 disposals), Adam Goodes and Kieren Jack did their best to keep the Swans in touch, while Paul Bevan and Shane Mumford both kicked two goals.
The Swans started brightly, dominating the inside-50 count in the first term to head to the first break in the lead.
The Swans had also enjoyed some luck, the most obvious example when Goodes was awarded a free-kick for holding the man, despite appearing to drop the ball when tackled by Chapman.
Goodes' goal gave the Swans the lead, and when Paul Bevan added another from outside the arc they had opened a seven-point buffer.
Geelong had the better of the second quarter arm-wrestle.
As torrential rain poured down, the Cats booted the only two majors of the term - both from free-kicks close to goal - and went to the long break with a 13-point lead.
Ryan O'Keefe narrowed the margin by booting the opening goal of the third term, although Geelong quickly replied when Wojcinski skidded one through.
While they subsequently had numerous chances to put their stamp on the game, the Swans wasted their opportunities and were still 13 points adrift at the final change.
A long bomb from Josh Kennedy brought the crowd to its feet early in the last quarter, before Cats skipper Cameron Ling rose to the challenge by putting through a brilliant running goal.
At the 14-minute mark, Wojcinski completed the job when his 60m shot dribbled through.
Influential player
Kieren Jack revelled in the wet conditions, gathering 16 possessions in the opening half, 12 of which were contested. He continually put his head over the ball as the rain belted down in the second half, and ended the night having sent his team inside 50 on nine occasions.
What it means
The Swans, who have the bye next weekend, will drop back into the pack of sides on the middle rungs of the ladder. They will be very disappointed to have lost their first game for the season at the SCG, as it has become a fortress for them in recent years.
Dream Team highlight
After another impressive performance in the midfield, Josh Kennedy (pre-game price $296,700) was his team's top Dream Team point-scorer with 115.
Next four:
Sydney Swans: bye, Carlton (SCG), Western Bulldogs (Manuka Oval), Port Adelaide (SCG)
What the coach said
John Longmire (Sydney Swans)
"In the first half there were some things there in regards to free kicks that we've just got to get better at as a team. When you're playing well, you've got to make sure that you get those easier goals that we should have got and you don't give away easy goals. I thought we let the pressure off a bit at times, especially in the second quarter, giving them some easy goals."
Sydney Swans 4.3 4.5 6.9 7.12 (54)
Geelong 3.2 6.6 8.10 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Bevan 2, Mumford 2, Goodes, O’Keefe, Kennedy, McVeigh
Geelong: Wojcinski 3, Chapman 2, Podsiadly, Menzel, Johnson, Enright, Varcoe, Ling
BEST
Sydney Swans: Jack, Kennedy, Goodes, McVeigh, Mumford
Geelong: Chapman, Johnson, Wojcinski, Kelly, Scarlett
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Geelong: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Andrejs Everitt replaced by Gary Rohan in the third quarter
Geelong: Josh Hunt replaced by Darren Milburn in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Ryan, Armstrong
Official crowd: 25,300 at SCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
