WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has judged his side's 18-point win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night as its best the season.

The Dogs held onto fourth spot and Eade expects the victory will provide momentum for the run to the finals.

He added that the disappointment of last week' upset defeat to West Coast, ankle surgery for Daniel Cross and the loss of Ryan Griffen (tight hamstring) on the eve of this match could have given the players "negative thoughts".

"We had three blokes that couldn't run after half time and with our players out ... it was just a courageous, tough win up here, playing for a top-four spot," he said.

"They were virtually at full strength. It was a courageous, courageous, great win."

Defender Tom Williams has a possible broken foot, while captain Brad Johnson (cork), Robert Murphy (cork) and Sam Reid (leg) all struggled to run the game out.

However, Eade said he expected all bar Williams to be available for next week's match against Geelong.

After overcoming the odds to notch their 13th win of the season, Eade said the Bulldogs could use the win as a springboard for the final two home-and-away rounds.

"I think last week's loss made these next three weeks ultra-important against three good teams, starting tonight," he said.

"We viewed it as a final. Our finals have come early so we've got another two finals the next two weeks, then we start the real stuff. We're under no illusions what's in front of us, but having said that I think the guys will get a bit of momentum from it.

"To do that I think can be a real turning point for our players."

After leading by 32 points at the last change, the Bulldogs had to endure a Lions comeback as they whittled the margin back to two straight kicks.

Eade gave the Lions credit for those efforts but said his team showed a great deal of composure in steadying the ship.

"We might have been swinging the troops around a bit and I think to do what they did in the last 15 to 20 minutes was just fantastic," he said.

Eade also made special mention of Johnson, who suffered his injury after crashing into a goalpost during the second term but returned to boot two third-quarter goals.

"His third quarter was a real leadership quarter. To be able to split the game open like he did, and really playing on one leg, is a real credit to him."