WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has conceded his side’s top-four prospects are terminal, but remains adamant that its best football is within reach.

The Dogs go into next week’s clash against Carlton at Etihad Stadium having lost to three of the competition’s premiership fancies - Hawthorn, Collingwood and St Kilda - by a combined total of just 16 points.

However Eade shrugged off any suggestion the Dogs lacked spirit against the top sides, insisting they were close to their best football.

“The effort is there so we have something to build on,” he said.

“I don’t think we are that far away, but certainly with a bit more efficiency tonight we could have kicked 15, 16, 17 goals.

“You know you’re not far away if the effort's there, so the effort's there at the moment, we just have to keep plugging away and find the blokes that can use the ball at the same time.”

The Dogs are now fifth on the ladder and a win outside the top four, with Fremantle and Collingwood still to play.

Eade conceded a top-four finish - seen as a fait accompli by pre-season pundits - was now a diminishing possibility.

“It’s going to be difficult; you don’t have to be Albert Einstein to work that out,” he said. “It’s difficult with only eight (games) left.”

Compounding the Dogs’ woes is the season-ending injury to Sam Reid, who dislocated both shoulders, and an ankle ligament strain to ruckman Will Minson, who will almost certainly be absent against the in-form Blues next week.

Eade lamented his side’s poor disposal, despite conquering the Hawks on the stat sheet, winning the contested possession count 105 to 79.

“We just lost it with our inside 50s no doubt. Every stat except tackling we won, contested ball, etc but we just didn’t make use of the ball going inside 50,” he said.

“I thought our use of the ball was substandard, it was poor and it cost us in the end.

“We had our chances. It was a tough, tight game from both sides and we had enough chances, not only shots at goal but certainly going inside 50 and kicking it straight to the opposition.

“Tonight it was a lack of poise which is disappointing.”

Defender Brian Lake, however, did come in for some belated praise from the Bulldogs coach.

“Brian’s second half was as good as I’ve seen Brian play. His first half he probably zoned off a bit but I thought his second half was fantastic,” Eade said.