Two towering late Dean Cox marks and a "dubious" free kick kept West Coast well-placed to snatch an AFL top four berth, at the expense of a spirited Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Eagles held on 15.13 (103) to 15.5 (95), after the Bulldogs came storming back from a 50-point deficit early in the second half to hit the front in the final quarter.

But West Coast responded, levelling the scores in time-on, when young tall forward Jack Darling goaled from a free kick, after Bulldog Liam Picken was judged to have pulled him down by the arm, a decision which bemused 'Dogs coach Rodney Eade.

"I was watching the incident, but I didn't see the free kick, so whether I was blind, I don't know," Eade said.

"We might have to get some clarification on that, but we can't get it back. If it's wrong, it's wrong. It might have cost us the game, but that's footy."

The Eagles then edged in front with a behind, before Cox produced the first of two mighty contested marks, deep in defence.

After another West Coast behind, Cox took his second huge mark, this time dead in front of goal, to seal the result.

The late heroics capped an enormous game by the four-time All Australian, who had 13 marks and 27 disposals to go with his game-high 37 hit-outs, in what was largely a lone hand without injured rucking partner Nic Naitanui.

"It was an enormous last five or 10 minutes, what he did," Eagles coach John Worsfold said.

"... It wasn't just about Dean Cox, but certainly a couple of his efforts were outstanding."

Worsfold said the ruckman might have felt he owed the team a special effort, after accidentally forcing forward Josh Kennedy to miss the game, when he hit him in the eye with a tennis ball at training on Friday.

"He might have been thinking about that late," Worsfold said.

The result was crucial, with the Bulldogs' slim finals hopes all but extinguished.

The Eagles remain fifth, two premiership points behind Carlton, but importantly with a game in hand on the Blues, meaning if they win their remaining five matches they are guaranteed a finals double chance.

With those games all against bottom eight sides and three of them in Perth, that is a strong possibility.

Despite the costly defeat, Eade praised his side for their spirit.

Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd (40 disposals, 11 clearances) was lion-hearted in midfield, Bob Murphy kept charging from defence to instigate attacking moves and Barry Hall (five goals) and Daniel Giansiracusa (four) kicked seven second-half goals between them.

Classy youngster Andrew Gaff (two goals, 31 touches) was excellent for West Coast, along with midfielders Matt Priddis and Matt Rosa.

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