The Bulldogs were smashed in the first quarter by the Giants at StarTrack Oval on Saturday and were probably lucky to go into quarter-time just 26 points down after losing the inside 50 count that term 6-22.
But the Bulldogs recovered from there, chipping away at the Giants' lead for the next two quarters, before blowing them away with a seven-goal final term to win by 27 points.
McCartney was pleased with the win after the game, but was not about to forget his team's poor start.
"To be honest we thought we could win the game when we turned up here today, but to serve up that rubbish for the first 30 minutes (was disappointing)," McCartney said.
"It was almost like we were just floating around and thinking, 'This is going to happen' and it rarely does.
"But on the flipside, to hang in there and get back to what we've built on and what we stand for and how we want to be seen (was pleasing)."
McCartney said the Bulldogs had turned the game around with smarter decision-making, better ball use and, primarily, by getting the game back on the terms they wanted it played.
The Dogs' coach said defender Dale Morris was in doubt for the club's clash with Carlton next round after being substituted out of Saturday's game early in the second quarter with a leg injury.
Morris injured himself when he tripped Giant Will Hoskin-Elliott with his left leg in the first quarter. Morris was not reported and there was no malice in what appeared an instinctive action, but the Match Review Panel is likely to scrutinise it.
McCartney said he had not seen the collision and would not know whether Morris would be fit to take on the Blues until Sunday at the earliest.
"We'll find out more tomorrow. The fact they subbed him and didn't put him back on the ground wasn't a great sign," he said.
Twitter: @AFL_Nick. http://afl.to/nickbowen
