Following their eight-point victory, Eade said it was vital for his side to secure the four points and cement its place in the top four of the competition.
“Some of the results fell our way on the weekend and we knew we had to capitalise on that,” he said.
The Bulldogs were struck with a virus this week, which sidelined Jarrod Harbrow and Shaun Higgins and forced the late withdrawal of Robert Murphy.
Eade said Lindsay Gilbee, Dale Morris, Brodie Moles and 50-gamer Tom Williams all played despite not being 100 per cent fit.
“They showed a lot of courage to not only be able to play but to play well and contribute,” Eade said.
“Once you go over the line that’s it and that’s what we expect from players to give what they gave.”
Eade was extremely impressed with his player’s attack on the ball in heavy rain and the slippery conditions.
“It becomes a mental game when it’s conditions like that and it can be easy for players to pretend to try, say they’re not feeling well… but tonight I think the guys showed 100 per cent and that’s really pleasing,” he said.
The Bulldogs won the contested possession count 138 to 124, and Eade said the game proved his side’s hardness.
“For three years now until this year we were the number one in contested ball and hard ball gets in the competition,” he said.
“Because we can score goals quickly and we tend to run people think that’s the basis of our game, but it’s underpinned by our hardness and our willingness to get in first- and is led by [Matthew] Boyd and [Daniel] Cross and these type of players.”
Daniel Giansiracusa (30 possessions and four clearances) was outstanding as was Nathan Eagleton (26 possessions and eight inside 50s).
Eade expects Murphy, Higgins, Harbrow and Callan Ward to return for next week’s clash against Geelong at Ethiad Stadium.
