WESTERN Bulldog champion Brad Johnson has described his fairytale 300th game as one of the best wins of his career.

Staring down the barrel of defeat Johnson conjured three late goals en route to five for the match to steal a three-point win in what developed into an engrossing contest from start to finish.

Johnson, whose last quarter goals came at the 26, 28 and 31-minute marks, beamed his trademark smile when asked his feelings post game. “I just wanted to get the win to be honest, but it turned out to be one of the better games I’ve ever played in,” he said.

The team player to the end, the 31-year-old used his heroics to drive a membership base that is so important to one of the AFL’s less affluent clubs.

“It’s (a win that is) very important because membership is important for our club and on the back of that I think it’s going to drive that a fair bit as well,” he said.

While Johnson smiled his way through the post game press conference, so too did an upbeat coach Rodney Eade.

Eade was thrilled his side was able to hang tough despite falling three goals behind midway through the third term.

“I think we showed a lot of character because the Crows are a good side. They are probably the best defensive unit in the competition and we were pleased to kick 19 goals,” Eade said.

“I don’t think we didn’t deserve to win.”

Eade lamented skill errors that he says cost the side as many as six goals.

“Not to take anything away from (Adelaide) but our skill error at stages was deplorable and probably cost us six or seven goals,” he said.

“No one means to make mistakes but they are errors that shouldn’t happen and they are the errors that become frustrating.

“When players are free you expect AFL players to be able to handball the ball 10 metres and hit a target – you’d expect amateur players to be able to do that.”

Against one of the leagues more frugal defensive structures Eade was thrilled his side conjured 19 goals, with Scott Welsh and Daniel Giansiracusa adding seven between them to lend great support to Johnson.

Giansiracusa’s effort to kick three goals and gather 24 possessions despite playing only one VFL practise match in the lead up was a highlight, while Welsh proved a thorn in his former club’s side with four well-timed goals.

“His first two or three (pre-season) games were a bit slow, but his last one was good and he played well today,” Eade said of Welsh.

While thrilled with the win Eade said his team only had to think back to last year to know it will mean nothing if it does not repeat the dose against Melbourne next weekend.

The Bulldogs comprehensively downed eventual premier Geelong in round one last season only to go on and lose the next week to Adelaide.

“The theme (post game) was we’ve got four points in the bank, good, but we’ve got to move on back up next week. It’s vital for us to win next week,” he said.

“Four points in round one is the same as four points in round 15 or round 18 and it’s unfortunate we make assessments and judgements too early about teams on how they go in round one.”