WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae says the win over the Sydney Swans is significant for more than just the way in which the team came from behind to snatch victory in the final seconds.

The win, Macrae said, was also massively important for the club's finals prospects heading into the run home.

The four-point result at the SCG on Saturday lifted the Bulldogs to fifth spot with 10 wins and four losses, level on points with Geelong (second), GWS (third), the Swans (fourth) and North Melbourne (sixth).

And Adelaide could join that group should the Crows overcome Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.

As a consequence, Macrae said all finals spots were up for grabs with eight matches remaining until the finals.

"Just looking at the ladder before this week, there are so many teams in that one-to-eight bracket that are very tight, so a win like this against a top-four team is really big for us, not only to build for the year but also ladder position," he said after the win over the Swans.

"A good or bad performance can really put you up or put you down on the ladder and obviously we want to finish as high as we can."

Macrae, who rotated through the midfield and finished with nine kicks, 14 handballs and five marks, described the Swans, with their years of experience in finals and track record in big games, as the "kind of team we want to emulate".

In a tight contest, the Bulldogs were 19 points up eight minutes into the final term and looked headed for victory before some Lance Franklin magic gave the Swans back the lead in a match that had seven lead changes.

However, Jason Johannisen marked and goaled with the last kick of the game to give the Bulldogs a famous victory.

The 21-year-old Macrae said the ability to maintain their composure even as the seconds ticked down was the most pleasing aspect of the match from the Bulldogs' perspective.

"When we got behind late in the game it was great that, as a young group," he said.

"It was really important when they got the momentum not to go away from what is important and keep backing your structures and hopefully eventually it will turn.

"I think that was the most positive thing – they got the momentum back but we wrestled it back towards the end."

The Bulldogs face Richmond in Melbourne next weekend.