IN THE excitement of the Western Bulldogs' thrilling four-point NAB Cup win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night - an event widely billed as Brian Lake's comeback to football - it would have been easy to overlook special contributions by two other experienced Dogs with similar points to prove.

Among the Bulldogs' best handful of players against the Blues were rejuvenated ruckman Will Minson (20 disposals and 4.0) and dashing defender Ryan Hargrave (27 disposals).

Minson, 26, has played 115 games in nine seasons, but managed just nine AFL appearances last season - and none after round 14 - when Ben Hudson was the preferred ruck option.

Since Hudson retired and then joined the Brisbane Lions, Minson has accepted the challenge of becoming the Bulldogs' chief ruckman, playing the lead role for talented understudies Jordan Roughead and Ayce Cordy.

Minson looked sharp in the first round of NAB Cup matches against Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood at Blacktown a fortnight ago, and elevated his game into perhaps unchartered territory on Sunday night when he pushed forward and became a match-winner.

Two contested marks and set-shot conversions in as many minutes - which gave the Dogs a quarter-time lead - underlined Minson's influence.

The mode of his fourth goal was even more impressive: a terrific leap over Blues defender Bret Thornton.

Minson was also a genuine physical presence around the stoppages and got involved in the flow of play, as his high possession count testified. (He had gathered 20 or more touches just twice previously, in the space of just a month in mid-2009.)

In the post-match press conference, Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said Minson could become a valuable player for his side.

"He's very aware [that] it's a big responsibility to shoulder a lot of that heavy-duty work and allow some younger, less experienced teammates to develop physically and learn more about the game," McCartney said.

"There's a lot of people that have become quite successful at our game that have just needed an opportunity and got one and taken it.

"This is only two weeks into an incredibly long year, but if Will keeps doing the basics like he did tonight and giving us a contest, he'll be very valuable for us."

Hargrave was also a valuable contributor, perhaps best-afield in the first half, and looks set to re-establish himself as a top-line player after enduring an injury-ruined 2011 season.

McCartney described the 30-year-old's performance as "very solid".

"I liked how he was out there helping his younger teammates," he said.

"He sees the game exceptionally well and he's enjoying, at this time in his career with all his experience, that he's got so much to teach teammates around him, [which is] very important from our club point of view.

"That's all we need him to do - just do his job every week and help his teammates.

"He's setting himself up for a good season."