The Western Bulldogs have kept their finals hopes alive for another day, shaking off a feisty young Geelong side and their own first-half lethargy to win by 25 points.

The Dogs will be relying on Carlton to defeat Greater Western Sydney on Sunday evening in order to participate in September, having saluted 16.8 (104) to 11.13 (79) to win for the first time at GMHBA Stadium since 2003.

They broke the game open in the fourth term, piling on 6.3 and keeping the Cats to one goal.

But the Bulldogs did it the hard way, having been shaded for three quarters before firing up for one last hurrah, quickly erasing the eight-point deficit and coasting to victory.

Star recruit Rory Lobb was crucial to the win, flipped into the ruck to open the second half and breaking the game open, combining beautifully with Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar.

The Dogs booted three goals in the first four minutes after the switch was made, keeping themselves in touch ahead of their final quarter run.

Geelong had dominated territory in the first half despite having made seven changes before the match; Brandan Parfitt, Tom Atkins and Sam Menegola (in his final game for Geelong, but not yet retired) working hard to provide supply to the forward line.

Inaccuracy and the tireless work of midfield generals Liberatore and Bontempelli kept the Dogs in touch, with the Cats going to half-time with 7.11 to their name.

The Dogs' height up forward – Aaron Naughton, Rory Lobb, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and the occasional stint from Tim English – worried the Cats, who only had Sam De Koning and Jake Kolodjashnij over 192cm.

But the ball use into attack meant the Dogs initially failed to fully capitalise on that advantage, particularly under little pressure, with Tom Stewart and Zach Guthrie being picked out as if they had added some red to their blue and white jumpers.

It was a different story by the final quarter, getting the ball in quickly and to the advantage of their talls amid a tiring Cats defence.

GEELONG                        2.5     7.11     10.13     11.13     (79)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.1     6.2     10.5     16.8     (104)

GOALS
Geelong: O.Henry 3, Stengle 2, Smith, Neale, Atkins, Dempsey, Miers, Dangerfield
Western Bulldogs: Lobb 3, Naughton 3, English 2, Treloar 2, Weightman 2, Poulter, Vandermeer, Liberatore, Ugle-Hagan

BEST
Geelong: Atkins, Parfitt, Stewart, Menegola, Dangerfield, Smith
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Bontempelli, Lobb, Treloar, Richards, English

INJURIES
Geelong: Kolodjashnij (head knock)
Western Bulldogs: Scott (head knock)

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Ted Clohesy (replaced Mitch Knevitt at three-quarter time)
Western Bulldogs: Lachie McNeil (replaced Vandermeer in the fourth quarter)