After hailing what he considered one of the bravest Bulldogs wins in years, coach Rodney Eade said what made beating Fremantle even more significant was the absence of key players.

Without the influential Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen before the bounce, Eade lost the talents of Robert Murphy to another hamstring midway through the clash in Darwin which was played in hot conditions and at breakneck speed.

But after seeing the Dockers bolt away and then edge to within a point at three-quarter time, Eade's men - led superbly by five-goal hero Brad Johnson - found another gear to win by 26 points and go into the mid-season break in good heart.

"For us to find a way to win, I think it is as good a win as this club has had for a long time (considering) the conditions and the fact Fremantle said publicly they had their season on the line," Eade said.

"People were asking how we were going to cover 'Crossy', more than 'Griff', because 'Griff' is a bit more explosive, a more powerful athlete, where a bloke like Daniel Cross really can run the lines.

"The fact we were able to share the load really well - there were a few blokes out on their legs a bit, and 'Murph' was out with a hammy.

"I think, from that aspect, the work load was shared a fair bit and it was very pleasing the young blokes stood up a bit too."

Naming debutant Malcolm Lynch, Jarrod Harbrow and Tom Williams as good contributors, Eade also said the work of Dale Morris on Dockers skipper Matthew Pavlich was key.

"He just did an enormous job," Eade said.

And while some unfamiliar faces got much praise, Eade could not leave his skipper out, who was brilliant all night in finding the ball despite some errant delivery.

"Johnno could have got better service at times - he's kicked five, his work rate was enormous ... but Johnno could have turned it around even more," he said.

"It was a terrific leaders game."

The win boosts the 7-5 Bulldogs to seventh place ahead of a clash against the Kangaroos on Sunday week, which could cement Eade's side in the AFL's top half.

But having beaten one of their main rivals for a place in the finals, Eade said the competition's closeness was likely to mean nothing would be settled until late on.

"People are going to say that if you are two games out with six or seven to play you will be gone, but that is not going to be the case," Eade said.

"Teams are going knock each other off. I think it is going to go down to the wire."

Murphy has strained his left hamstring - it was an injury to the right hamstring which kept him out for a month after round six - and is expected to miss some games but not many according to Eade.

"It's the other hamstring, which is a good sign," Eade said.

"At worst, it will be three weeks, which will be two games. At best, he will only miss one."

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