Finally for the Western Bulldogs, there was a tangible reward for improvement with an impressive 22-point AFL win over West Coast at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

With veteran Robert Murphy outstanding and onballer Luke Dahlhaus booting four goals and having 29 touches, the Bulldogs converted some promising late-season performances into a mostly four-quarter effort – and a 16.15 (111) to 13.11 (89) win.

The Bulldogs did have some minor heart tremors as the Eagles rolled back a 33-point lead early in the final term to 14 with three successive goals.

But they steadied with a late Dylan Addison goal to post just their fifth win of the season, and leave West Coast with a 7-10 win-loss record.

The Dogs arm-wrestled the Eagles in the opening half, but led by a point at halftime with four of the last five goals.

Two were superb soccered efforts from Dahlhaus, with much-maligned Jarrad Grant having a major hand in two goals during the term.

With Dahlhaus busy and Murphy outstanding, the Dogs kept their noses in front at three-quarter-time.

They kicked up a gear early in the final term, with Grant kicking two and Tory Dickson another, before being forced to weather the Eagles’ late charge.

Grant and Dickson finished with three goals each.

West Coast forward Josh Hill booted three goals against his old club, Josh Kennedy also booted three, while midfielder Andrew Gaff had 31 possessions.

The Eagles’ bad day was compounded with midfielder Chris Masten injuring his ankle in the second quarter, and substituted out of the match at halftime.