WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade believes his players are better tacklers than the league's statistics indicate, after smashing the hardened Hawks in clearances during Saturday's 32-point win at Aurora Stadium.

The Bulldogs were 14th in the competition in tackles before Saturday afternoon's match, but defied their standing with an aggressive display that led Alastair Clarkson's men 57 to 38.

"We think our tackling has really improved this year, even though the stats show we're 14th in the competition," Eade said after the win.

"I think the players have been a bit disappointed where we sat, it hasn't been consistent, but today we really made a bit more of a focus and we knew Hawthorn are very good around stoppages and in tight.

"We needed to win the ball but if we couldn't, we needed to put big pressure on them – I think every player responded to that, which was great."

Eade was also happy with the effort his players showed across the whole game, with the Bulldogs increasing their lead at every change.

"I was really pleased; it was probably our best four-quarter effort," he said.

"Our intensity was really good, tackling was good, our use of the ball except for goal-kicking was really good, we marked the ball really well.

"We played smart, so all those factors were really pleasing."

Involved in two nail-biting games in the past fortnight – the three-point win over Fremantle followed by the three-point loss to the Kangaroos – Eade said it was important for the players' mentality to realise they have the endurance to run games out strongly.

"Even though we've only lost one game and there's a draw, we've been inconsistent in our own minds," he said.

"The thing is, we're still improving, today goes a long way towards cementing some real confidence and some thought processes, that we need that intensity for four quarters."

Eade was also pleased with his side's ability to withstand the Hawks' third-quarter charge, when the previously unbeaten side got within eight points after booting the first three goals of the term.

"The spirit and the unity of the players has been really good – and their three goals were a result of our forays forward, we kicked two points, turned the ball over inside 50 and they went down the other end," he said.

"It's very easy to get down on yourself in that situation, and the players as a group really rose to that challenge.

"There is a fair bit of character in the group, there is a lot of leadership.

"There were players like Tom Williams who did well, Dylan Addison ... these guys really rose to the challenge as well as the leadership group."