Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade is not yet convinced his side belongs in the company of Geelong and Hawthorn, despite downing bogey side Sydney to maintain a buffer on the rest of the AFL.

But the Bulldogs' 18.4 (112) to 14.10 (94) victory at the SCG convinced him that their efforts to develop more toughness in the clinches this season have paid off.

It was the `Dogs' first win over the Swans since 2002, with five losses in between.

That record made Sunday's performance a good indicator of their transition from a side based on pace and skill to one that also has the strength and hardness to match it with the best in close.

"Against a team that plays very good contested footy and stoppages, obviously we were able to match them in that area so that was pleasing from that point of view," Eade said.

"I was pretty confident (we could match them), with the way we've gone about it the first six weeks and over the pre-season.

"The guys have a fairly strong resolve to play football that way and there's a fair bit of confidence in the group.

"It's a challenge against the best team that does that so it was more about proving it to ourselves rather than the football world."

The Bulldogs became the only side apart from Geelong to break the 100-point barrier against the stingy Swans' defence so far this season and maintained their own record of having reached that mark in every round.

The victory kept them as one of three unbeaten sides, with only their round five draw with Richmond leaving them two points adrift of the top-placed Cats and second-placed Hawks.

But Eade said they did not yet warrant being ranked alongside those clubs.

"I think the fact is we're still below those two," Eade said.

"And we haven't played every team, so you can't really see where you're at either to be honest.

"I think today highlighted there's some areas we need to work on ... but overall it's been fairly pleasing."

The Bulldogs get the chance to test themselves against the Hawks in Launceston in round 10.

But, in a quirk of the draw, they do not meet Geelong until round 16 and Hawthorn do not play the Cats until round 17, meaning the reigning premiers won't face the two in-form challengers until late July.

At the other end of the table, Melbourne achieved their first victory of the season in sensational style, storming home from as much as 51 points down against Fremantle at the MCG today.

The 17.17 (119) to 15.23 (113) win was the greatest comeback in the Demons' history and their 50-point halftime deficit was the second-largest overcome by any club in AFL/VFL history.

It was the first joy for first-time coach Dean Bailey whose team went winless through the pre-season and the first six rounds.

Elevated rookie Austin Wonaeamirri starred with four goals, including two in two minutes late in the match to push Melbourne into the lead.

For the Dockers, who were rated as likely finalists before the season, it meant more despair and further evidence of their erratic form after they fell one point short of Geelong at Subiaco last round.

They and fellow West Australian club West Coast are separated from the bottom-placed Demons only by percentage.

Essendon are just one win ahead in 13th spot, their season heading further into free fall when they were thumped 24.14 (158) to 15.4 (94) by Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome today.

It was the Bombers' fourth sizeable loss in as many rounds, while last season's runners-up the Power now have three wins on the trot, after going winless through the first four rounds.

Port are now only percentage out of the eight.

In other results this round, Carlton skipper Chris Judd celebrated his return to Subiaco with a win over former club West Coast on Friday night.

On Saturday, Geelong pulled away from Brisbane at Skilled Stadium, Hawthorn thrashed Collingwood at the MCG, St Kilda inched home against an unlucky Richmond at Telstra Dome and Adelaide outclassed North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium.

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