North coach Brad Scott described the Kangaroos' first win over the Swans in seven years as a "pretty complete performance against an opposition that we clearly have enormous respect for, for obvious reasons".
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A controlled Scott said after the 43-point win at the SCG: "They have taken great joy in beating us over a long period of time.
"Even well before my time, Sydney have had the wood over us, so it is a pretty important win away from home.
"It's about the players. It is the first time under my coaching regime that we've beaten them, but it's more important for the playing group than it is to me."
Having copped criticism following an opening round defeat to Essendon, the Roos have had three consecutive victories, but Scott was not getting carried away.
"It is a good position to be in, but it can change very quickly," Scott said.
"There's only been a month of footy and we have got a lot of footy to go. We will just be trying to bank each win as each game comes up.
"We've got another big challenge against Collingwood next week and the challenges just keep coming.
"The sides that the public think aren't going that well at the moment, if they're the worst team in the competition we've got a very good competition."
Scott was also pleased to win given the damp conditions at the SCG.
"It hasn't been a strength of ours in the past," Scott said. "Maybe it's because we play a lot of our home games under the roof at Etihad in good conditions and then when we come to wet footy we don't adapt very well. But I thought we adapted really well.
"We spent a lot of time on it and were lucky to have some wet weather in Melbourne during the week to train in and we really prepared for that sort of game."
Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin kicked just one behind, and his mood wouldn't have improved after being reported for striking direct opponent Scott Thompson in the final quarter.
Thompson, who also held Franklin goalless the last time he faced him when Buddy was in Hawthorn colours, accumulated 24 possessions in an outstanding all-round display.
Sydney coach John Longmire cited several reasons why his side couldn't get going as they recorded their fourth-lowest score at the SCG.
"We thought our general hit around the ball and pressure on the opposition wasn't as good as what we should have had," Longmire said. "Therefore they were able to get cleaner entries than what we were and they were able to score too easily once they got inside their forward 50.
"We over-handballed too much too early and then probably went the other way when it dried up."
The only multiple goalkicker for Sydney was defender Jeremy Laidler, who kicked two booming goals from about 50 metres.
Sydney will consider unveiling Kurt Tippett for his season debut next week.
