Rodney Eade believes the Western Bulldogs' gutsy three-goal triumph over Brisbane will stand as a significant turning point for his top-four bound troops.

Eade rated Saturday night's 15.12 (102) to 12.12 (84) high-stakes Gabba victory as the side's best win of the year, a week after their worst loss of 2009.

The Bulldogs put their shock five-point loss to West Coast behind them, strengthened claims on fourth spot and also allayed fears of a third straight late-season fadeout by bravely holding off the fast-finishing Lions.

It was former Lion Jason Akermanis who ultimately returned to bite his old club by snapping the sealer with a brilliant left foot drop punt from the boundary line after Brisbane reduced a 32-point three-quarter deficit to 12.

"It was a great win. We had three blokes that couldn't run after halftime, and players were out," coach Eade said.

"That was certainly our best win of the year, there's no doubt about it."

On top of Daniel Cross (ankle) and late withdrawal Ryan Griffin (hamstring) missing, Tom Williams (foot), Sam Reid and Bob Murphy played limited roles after the visitors jumped to a 33-point advantage at the main break.

With clashes against Geelong and Collingwood to come before the finals, Eade felt it could be a season-defining win.

"Last week's loss made these next three weeks ultra-important against three good teams starting (with the Lions)," he said.

"We viewed it as a final. Our finals had come early, so we've got another two finals in the next two weeks and then we start the real stuff.

"We're under no illusions, what's in front of us. But having said that, I think the guys will get some real momentum from that.

"Playing poorly last week, losing Cross and then losing Griffen, the players could obviously start thinking some negative thoughts and I've been through all the scenarios of who we play but to do that it can be a real turning point.

"It was just a courageous, tough win."

Eade admitted his men appeared re-energised by a four-day preparation in the Queensland sunshine aimed at escaping the Melbourne cold and giving them a change of scenery before the finals.

It worked, with the Bulldogs immediately putting their inaccuracy of the previous week behind them to kick 10.5 in the first half as they continually pressured the off-colour Lions into error.

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