The Western Bulldogs beat defending champion St Kilda by 11 points in their AFL Wizard Cup quarter-final at Aurora Stadium.

The Saints hit the front by a point 20 minutes into the last term, but goals to youngsters Cameron Faulkner and Adam Cooney gave the Bulldogs an upset win, 2.10.7 (85) to 1.9.11 (74).

The win is a massive boost to the Bulldogs, who were 14th last season, and their new coach Rodney Eade.

Although it is only late February, the players' celebrations at the final siren showed how important tonight's win was to club morale.

The Bulldogs will now play the winner of Saturday night's quarter-final between Melbourne and Carlton at Telstra Dome.

But Bulldogs key forward Chris Grant will come under video scrutiny after a first-quarter clash that sent Saints defender Max Hudghton to hospital.

There did not appear to be anything untoward in the collision as the two players went for a mark, Grant made contact and Hudghton fell to the ground heavily.

Play was held up for five minutes in the first term after Hudghton went down at 13 minutes.

He was taken off the ground on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace, but Hudghton was moving his arms.

Hudghton needed surgery and missed the first five weeks of last season after hurting his shoulder in a Wizard Cup match against Adelaide.

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