The Western Bulldogs have snapped a three-game losing streak to put their AFL season back on track, overwhelming Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

While coach Rodney Eade was cautious about what might lie ahead, forward Robert Murphy said the Bulldogs could now set themselves up through the middle of the season.

The Bulldogs kicked eight goals to one in the third quarter on their way to a 32-point win over the Crows, 17.16 (118) to 12.14 (86).

The `Dogs are among four teams on four wins, while Adelaide and seven other sides have three wins each.

Collingwood are one of those sides on three wins and have a chance to climb the ladder when they play unbeaten St Kilda on Monday night at Etihad Stadium.

"We thought after the first six that at 3-3 we would've liked to have at least one more win, but I think today's win tips the scales," Murphy said.

"We can really set ourselves to make a charge.

"It's such a long season that it's easy to get carried away after three losses and talk of crisis and all that, which was not the case internally at all, so we came over here to do a job, we did it and we're back on track."

Eade said the team's confidence had never dropped during their losing run and was particularly pleased with Murphy and Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney.

Murphy and Cooney were impressive, following injury-interrupted starts to the season.

"There's not much difference between the teams and if you can scrape a win when you can, terrific," Eade said.

"Whether that means we'll win five of the next seven, I don't know, but our confidence hasn't dropped and it proves to the players they're not far away."

Also on Sunday, West Coast held off Melbourne to win by eight points at Subiaco, 12.18 (90) to 13.4 (82).

The Eagles have joined the group of teams on three wins, while the Demons and Richmond remain on one win apiece and the Saints and Geelong are unbeaten.

The Cats were without No.l player Gary Ablett, but didn't miss a beat on Saturday when they outclassed Sydney by 51 points.

Swans full-forward Barry Hall was held goal-less in the 17.14 (116) to 10.5 (65) regulation win.

North Melbourne withstood Port Adelaide's late flurry of goals to triumph by five points on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

But North could only attract 14,342 fans to watch them win 20.5 (125) to 18.12 (120) and that is expected to cost them a six-figure sum.

In another twist to the AFL's stadium deals issue, North's home games this year are now apparently running at a loss.

Carlton suffered their second narrow defeat in as many weeks, losing to Fremantle on the Gold Coast by seven points, 13.10 (88) to 11.15 (81).

The Tigers squandered a strong first quarter on Saturday at the MCG, losing to Brisbane by 26 points.

The pressure on Richmond coach Terry Wallace will continue to build after the 15.7 (97) to 10.11 (71) loss.

And Essendon scored one of the upsets of the season on Friday night, belting Hawthorn by 44 points at Etihad Stadium, 17.14 (116) to 10.12 (72).

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