WEST Coast has held off a desperate Western Bulldogs to notch a gutsy road win, landing a significant blow on their rivals' premiership defence with a thrilling seven-point win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

After the Eagles built a 30-point lead late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs kicked four of the last five goals but their comeback came up just short with West Coast winning 12.15 (87) to 11.14 (80). 

Full match coverage and stats

West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy sealed the victory with two magnificent efforts, kicking the final goal of the game out of a stoppage and pushing into defence to take a desperate mark as the Bulldogs pushed one final time. 

WATCH: Vardy brilliance denies Dogs

It was a gutsy win for the travelling Eagles, who have been criticised for their form on the road this season, losing their past three games in Melbourne before Saturday's clash.

They overcame fresh injuries to Sam Butler (hamstring) and Sharrod Wellingham (hip), as well as the absence of skipper Shannon Hurn, Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis and star forward Josh Kennedy to notch their eighth win of the season and solidify their place in the top eight. 

"Trying to stop momentum has been really tough this year for us at stages, but I thought some of our big fellas stood up in the last five minutes and I'm really proud of the players with their resilience," coach Adam Simpson said.

"We know we've been poor over here the last three games, two of them were blowouts, so we tweaked a couple of things, but I think the players were in general pretty brave today."

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The loss leaves the Bulldogs' premiership defence on shaky ground and places them further behind the finals-bound teams and raising questions about their ability to reach the highs of 2016 again. 

Luke Beveridge's team is now 7-7, with only one good quarter of football to boast out of Saturday's match, having kicked 7.9 across the first three quarters. 

For West Coast, Jack Darling was super in attack, making up for the absence of Kennedy by providing a strong aerial target and kicking 3.2 with a further six score assists.

Midfielder Andrew Gaff was given freedom to roam the wings and won a career-high 42 possessions, launching the ball inside 50 a game-high 10 times. 

The Eagles dominated the midfield, winning the clearances 46-29 and kicking 7.5 (47) to 0.3 (3) from clearances.

On-ballers Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed and Sam Mitchell were all strong around the stoppages, with the Bulldogs unable to capitalise of the ruck dominance of ruckman Tom Campbell (47 hit-outs).  

Despite their shortcomings, however, they were still able to launch a thrilling comeback that fell just short.  

Beveridge said the Bulldogs had not handled the Eagles' pressure and didn't have enough contributors in the first three quarters.  

"When we use the ball like that against any team we are in trouble," the coach said.

"They were definitely the better side by a fair way up until three quarter time.

"We didn't have enough spread of performance in those first three quarters to be too encouraged about."

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The Eagles left the door ajar in the final term, conceding the opening three goals and allowing the margin to tighten to just eight points after a game-high lead of 30.

With only two fit men on the bench, the visitors were under siege and needed to respond, but they could not take their chances and their forwards' supply dried up.

After a dirty day, livewire forward Jake Stringer had his moment, intercepting Tom Barrass' kick from deep in defence to snap a goal that cut the margin to just one point.

All the momentum was with the Bulldogs, but with three minutes remaining Vardy snapped a goal out of stoppage, with the Eagles then sending numbers behind the ball.

As the Bulldogs launched their final desperate efforts inside 50, Jeremy McGovern took brilliant pack mark, with Vardy's aerial effort then sealing the result.

For the Bulldogs, Lachie Hunter (26 possessions) and Jack Macrae (24 and eight tackles) battled hard, while skipper Robert Murphy returned to provide clean ball-use that was often lacking from teammates.  

Half-back Jason Johannisen was targeted again, with West Coast sending Mark Hutchings to him at the opening bounce and keeping him to just 12 possessions.

 

MEDICAL ROOM
Western Bulldogs: The Bulldogs appeared to get through unscathed.

West Coast: Sam Butler suffered a left hamstring injury halfway though the third quarter and is set for a short stint on the sidelines. Sharrod Wellingham was on and off the ground through the third quarter with a left hip problem, conceding at three-quarter time and not returning. Nathan Vardy received treatment for a shoulder issue but was able to play on.  

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs' season is on the line against Adelaide next Friday night at Adelaide Oval in a crunch game for the defending premiers. West Coast returns to Domain Stadium where it hosts Port Adelaide, which has lost its past three against the Eagles.

WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.2   4.5     7.9       11.14 (80)                  
WEST COAST                     4.6   6.9   11.13    12.15 (87)           

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Redpath 2, Hunter 2, Wallis 2, Dale, Dickson, McLean, Roughead, Stringer
West Coast: Darling 3, Karpany 3, Cripps 2, McGovern, Petrie, Sheed, Vardy

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Macrae, Bontempelli, Dale, Cordy, Murphy
West Coast: Gaff, Darling, Petrie, McGovern, Vardy, Mackenzie, Hutchings

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Redpath (corked thigh)
West Coast: Butler (hamstring) Wellingham (hip), Vardy (shoulder), Butler (hamstring)

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Andrew Stephens, Andrew Mitchell 

Official crowd: 29,671 at Etihad Stadium