COLLINGWOOD vice-captain Steele Sidebottom says the Magpies need to become more consistent to get wins on the board.

The Magpies remained in the contest until the final minutes against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night, a heartening sign for a team that had missed finals in each of the past three seasons, and pushed but rarely beat top eight teams in the second half of 2016.

"We're definitely getting better," Sidebottom told AFL.com.au.

"We'll just keep building and hopefully get more and more consistent and start getting the wins on the board."

The Bulldogs kicked the first four goals of the game and then banged on five unanswered goals during the third quarter to ensure their noses were in front at the finish.

"We both had our moments in the game and they made the most of theirs more than we did," Sidebottom said.

Sidebottom said it was the team's ball use that was the difference.

"We probably butchered the footy a little bit and that's what caught us out early," Sidebottom said.

While he admitted that having to dole out punishment to teammate Jordan De Goey for being in a fight then lying to the coach was a distraction early in the week, it had had no effect on the result.

"I'd be lying to say it didn't [distract us] at all, but as soon as the statement came out on Tuesday and Jordy copped his punishment we put it behind us and to be honest we haven't spoken about it since," Sidebottom said.

"It probably was a distraction but it's not the reason why we lost tonight."

The Magpies take on Richmond next Thursday in a must-win encounter, with the Sydney Swans at the SCG and St Kilda at Etihad Stadium to follow.