Eade, who said there were areas of Saturday's seven-point win over Melbourne at the MCG that were disappointing, conceded the gap between the Dogs and ladder-leaders Geelong and St Kilda was substantial.
"We played well for a quarter or so last week but we haven't strung them together yet," he said after the game.
"We're a long way off [the top two] at this stage. We're not even contemplating that, not even worried about that at this stage.
"We just want to get enough wins to get in the eight. That's our first hurdle.
"Every win is priceless, even though we didn't play well today. It was just good to get a win because it's another on the board and it's a very even competition."
Eade said the Dogs would find out on Friday night just how prepared they are to face one of the sides setting the competition's standard.
"Our minds haven't been on the opposition coming up until now," he said.
"We've just got to take it every week and not think too far ahead. We've just got to get our preparation right this week.
"They're playing very well and they're the best side in the competition. It's a big challenge for us and we can look forward to that."
Eade was disappointed with his players at times throughout Saturday's game, particularly in the first half when the Demons dominated possession, and in the last quarter when they got back in the contest.
"I didn't think our intent to put pressure on or man up was good enough. We were very flat and very poor with that intensity," he said.
He said Robert Murphy had sustained a minor hamstring injury and would have scans in the coming days, but was expected to miss a couple of weeks.
"He felt it in a marking contest. He did it jumping, and as he landed, he rotated his body and just put it in an awkward position and got a little bit of a twinge," he said.
"He said he felt tightening but it seems like he's given it a bit of a twinge."
He also said Dylan Addison suffered a knock to his knee in the fourth quarter but was fine, while Shaun Higgins was expected to play next week after being rested with the groin soreness that kept him out last weekend.
Late withdrawal Ryan Hargrave (quad) is also a chance to play after hurting his leg at training during the week.
