Footscray coach Luke Beveridge says the win over Sydney was another important step in his side's build towards September.

The Bulldogs led from start to finish at the SCG, toppling the ladder-leaders by 39 points.

"It's really pleasing, we've had a really good period, had some important wins, it's the first time we've won three in a row this year so in the scheme of things we're pretty content with the afternoon," Beveridge said.

"It's still really tight, and our experience over the last couple of years, (we've) probably been a bit fragile at this time of year where we've dropped a game or two and we just haven't been on our mettle.

"So, we're a different version of ourself this year, we've evolved throughout the course of the year into a team that's playing their roles extremely well."

A strong start was a goal for the Dogs heading into the game, one which they achieved to great effect.

Importantly, once they established the tone in that first quarter, they were able to maintain it for the remainder of the game.

"We needed to be ready for them really coming hard in that first quarter, everyone's ambition is to get off to a good start, so to win that quarter emphatically was important, but then to collect our thoughts at quarter-time and discuss the fact that their second and third quarters have been quite ballistic, and be prepared," Beveridge said.

Beveridge confirmed that Nick Coffield was subbed out of the game purely for precautionary reasons, despite copping a knock to the chest in the third quarter.

"He was just a little bit tight late, so we don't think he's got an injury," Beveridge said.

"We subbed him off just with the awareness that we've got a five-day break, but I thought he'd been really important for us."