Western Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge says the team should pride themselves on the way they fought right to the end of Saturday night’s match.

The fast-finishing Dogs fell just four points short to Geelong at Adelaide Oval in Gather Round, kicking the final three goals to give the Cats a late scare.

Beveridge said despite the result, the effort is something his side should be proud of.

“Geelong probably owned the territory a little bit with what they were doing and got us with some of their clean open-field plays - ultimately it’s a loss where it could’ve been anyone’s,” he told media post-match.

“Even though the margin was three or so goals in their favour for most of the night, I’m really pleased we didn’t go away.

"It’s a bit of a would’ve, should’ve, could’ve – if the game goes for a bit longer you never know, but it’s a good sign for us.”

Beveridge said transitioning from attack to defence was something that could’ve been done better.

“We missed two goals and they went all the way up the other end from kick-ins,” he said.

“We just weren’t set up defensively for those longer, quicker points – they just ripped it through, and that was the game. I felt like it was a bit of a sliding doors (moment) to a degree.

“Centre bounce was a factor in the first half – our mids and our rucks evened that up as the game went on which helped but I never felt like we weren’t in it.

“We need to pride ourselves in the fact that whatever the scoreboard is, we’re not going to go away. That was the case tonight.”

The Bulldogs will host Essendon at Marvel Stadium this Friday night in round five.