WESTERN Bulldogs forward Daniel Giansiracusa admitted he thought he was done for the day after he felt his knee lock in the first quarter of Sunday's clash with North Melbourne at the MCG.

The 27-year-old forward was helped from the field 11 minutes into the game and disappeared straight down the race after getting his knee caught in a "tangle" on the members-side wing.

Considering he had an ACL scare in the same leg in late 2007, Giansiracusa left the ground with a high degree of concern.

"The knee sort of locked and wouldn't go back to normal," he said, after the game.

"Usually when I straighten my leg it's OK, but it's happened a couple of times during the year.

"It's come good now. The docs worked some magic underneath and it came good, so it was good I was able to contribute in the end because it didn't look like I was going to do much at the start of the day."

In fact Giansiracusa's contribution was telling in the result. He kicked three majors for the game – two of which came in the defining final term, as did a skilfull goal assist to teammate Josh Hill.

The man affectionately known as 'Gia' around Whitten Oval said he was confident the movement problems with the knee were unrelated to the frayed ACL he experienced nearly two years ago.

"It's totally different so I don't think it's the ACL," he said.

"There must be something floating around in there but we'll worry about it at the end of the year.

"I'll be pretty sore tomorrow but it's just one of those things you've got to deal with and manage, so it will be fine."

Giansiracusa was clearly relieved to secure the tough 22-point win against the Kangaroos, who he said presented themselves as a formidable opponent in their first game under caretaker coach Darren Crocker.

"They're not a team that if you put intense pressure on, they'll fall away," he said.

"They're a bit like Sydney. They're always going to keep coming at you.

"[With a] new coach, they've got a bit to prove … they threw the ball around a fair bit with their hands and cut us open a bit.

"I think it was a good, gutsy win to win by four goals.

"We're obviously not happy with the way we played, but with the way the season is and the way every other team is, you just take the four points and move onto next week."

He said the players were inspired by the pressure applied by young midfielder Callan Ward in the second half.

He also said they were wowed by high-leaping forward Josh Hill's grab in the goal-square that resulted in the lead-changing major at the end of the third quarter. 

"I had a bit of a smile. We always knew he was going to take one and I reckon he'll take a few more in his career," he said.

"He's a bit of a jumping jack. Johnno [Brad Johnson] reckons he should have shepherded it through, though."