WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross says his side will learn from mistakes made in the 2006 finals as it prepares to meet Geelong in a preliminary final next weekend.

The Bulldogs smashed Collingwood in the first final two years ago, only to get ahead of themselves and be destroyed by eventual premiers West Coast the following week.

Coach Rodney Eade said it was "party time" for the boys after that win over the Magpies, and Cross agreed.

"We've certainly learned from that," he said, reflecting on the attitude the players had shown going into the second final of 2006.

"That was a big mistake of ours. No one is going to pick us against Geelong now, but we'll go back to the drawing board, freshen up, have a light week and just throw caution to the wind against them.

"We've got a preliminary final to lose, apparently, but I think the pressure will be on Geelong.

"We've got to bring our contested style of play next week, like we did tonight, and who knows what will happen."

Cross, 25, said the main differences between the Dogs' loss to Hawthorn last Friday and their spirited showing against the Sydney Swans this week was sheer effort.

"There were just 22 contributors. Everyone had a job to do this week, and everyone played it out to a 'T'," he said.

"Blokes had run-with roles and were fantastic and stuck to their jobs, the forward pressure was absolutely fantastic and we just took the game on.

"After half time we really stuck fat after things weren't going our way with a couple of free kicks, and the interchange one in the second quarter hurt us, but we really stuck to it.

"Full credit to our guys; it was a great fighting win."

Captain Brad Johnson was felled in the second quarter and appeared down for the count after copping a heavy knock that left him sprawled on the turf.

He was helped from the field before returning later that quarter to become one of the Bulldogs' best.

Cross said his performance was inspirational.

"That's what you want from your captain," he said.

"It was probably one of the better games I've seen him play. His pressure and his work rate was phenomenal, and he played really well and led from the front.

"That's what you want to see, when your captain is down and he comes back out and keeps fighting. It was great to see."