The Western Bulldogs were good enough, but not for long enough as they nearly pulled off an upset AFL win over Collingwood.

Coach Brendan McCartney was encouraged by his team’s performance in the 21-point loss on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.

They only trailed by seven points halfway through the last quarter when defender Brian Lake kicked a superb goal.

McCartney said probably the most pleasing aspect was that when their younger players made mistakes, they were still prepared to take the game on and “dared to dream” when they had the ball.

But Collingwood were harder when the game was on the line.

“We felt we just didn’t smash in aggressively enough for long enough and the contested ball count got out of control in the last quarter,” McCartney said.

“They outnumbered us around the ball – we have to become a club and we will become a club that just is physical and fights to the death.”

Again, the Bulldogs clearly suffered for not having a big-marking key forward, but McCartney said that was no excuse.

“We’ve got what we’ve got and when our intensity was fever-pitch and we were aggressive and cracking in and tackling and putting on enormous pressure – the goals just happened, didn’t they?,” he said.

“So that’s the lay of the land, that’s what we have to keep doing and do it for longer and we will.”

McCartney also was not concerned about several crucial turnovers in the last term that cost his side, saying the Bulldogs were more concerned about players following team rules.

“There has been some pretty strong feedback given to people who move away from what the team needs in relation to playing their role at a stop play or committing their body or joining in team defence,” he said.

“That’s where we’ve coached them pretty strongly.”

Both teams suffered injuries, with Collingwood utility Ben Johnson hurting a shoulder again.

Bulldogs defender Easton Wood was among their best until he limped off in the third term with a hamstring injury.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said there was still plenty of room for improvement, but was pleased with his team’s ability to grind out a tough win.

“The Bulldogs were true to their form over the last couple of weeks – they love to outnumber at the contest, they work very hard for each other on the spread, to get from the stoppage to the next contest,” Buckley said.

“That was clearly what they were able to do to us early in the game and it took us a while to adjust.

“Eventually it was a good performance to do so and grind the win out.”

Ruckman Darren Jolly was a late withdrawal for Collingwood with groin soreness and that meant his replacement Cameron Wood rucked for nearly the whole game.

Buckley wants Wood to take more contested marks, but was encouraged as the Magpies seek more ruck support for Jolly.

“Woody definitely stood up and held up his end of the bargain,” Buckley said.