WESTERN Bulldog coach Rodney Eade could not have hoped to have the ball in the hands of anyone else than skipper Brad Johnson for a game winning goal after the siren.

Having fought and scraped all day against North Melbourne the Dogs’ fate hinged on Johnson's after-the-siren shot at goal after he marked 35 metres out on little or no angle.

The kick sailed wide much to the disgust of Johnson who threw his mouth guard into the Telstra Tome turf.

“There are not too many other blokes in the team that would be safer,” Eade said of Johnson’s goal-kicking ability.

“But, that's the way it goes.”

While Doggie fans lament Johnson's missed shot, Eade was lamenting decision-making errors and missed tackles.

“At the end of the day that's the thing that loses the game but it's not really. There were a lot of other factors in the game and individual efforts and unfortunately it comes down to that last kick,” he said.

“We just missed a few tackles that we normally don't miss, and haven't missed this year, and there were some poor decisions at the wrong time that certainly cost us.”

Eade paid tribute to the Kangaroos never-say-die attitude and their ability to hang tough and stay in the game.

Having lost its first game of the season, the Dogs tackle top-of-the-table Hawthorn next week as the third installment of a tough eight-week period for the Doggies.

After the Hawks they face St Kilda, Brisbane, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Geelong in what shapes as judgment time for the third placed side.

“The six weeks after the break are a tough six weeks with interstate travel and we are playing good teams that are in the eight,” he said.

“It's a tough period for us, but that's fine, that's what footy is about and we are looking forward to that.”

Eade said star onballer Scott West was still a fortnight away from resuming as he tries to overcome a severe bone bruise.