It wasn't quite the shoot-out both teams had promised but the Western Bulldogs weren't complaining after extending their hot streak against Essendon with a 33–point win at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

After another sluggish start, the Bulldogs, trailing by eight points at half-time, split the contest open with a six-goal-to-two third term.

Mitch Hahn drilled three of his five goals in a quarter where tensions between the teams threatened to boil over.

Matthew Lloyd's first goal of the night to start the final term cut the deficit to 13 points and gave the Bombers' hope. But the Bulldogs maintained their composure to post their 11th win of the season and retain a hold on third spot.

This effort continued a superb season for the Bulldogs, who have now won eight of their past 10 matches, with the two defeats being by two points to powerhouse Geelong and one-point to Collingwood.

The victory was also their sixth-straight against the Bombers, extending a dominance that began in 2005.

The Bulldogs gradually took control of the match after the Bombers' 'small-ball' tactics initially caused trouble.

Key marking targets Scott Lucas, who was held goal-less and endured a dirty night, and Lloyd were sent to half-forward, the latter particularly important for the Bombers as it meant rebounding Bulldogs defender Brian Lake was forced out of his familiar spot on the last line of defence.

The speedy pair of Alwyn Davey and Jason Winderlich was instead played out of the goal-square, heaping pressure on their opponents.

The Bombers also took more risks, playing on eight times to the Dogs' two in the opening 11 minutes of the second term as they drilled three quick goals to storm to a 15-point lead.

It was then the Bulldogs rediscovered their mojo.

Adam Cooney, who went head-to-head with the fiery Heath Hocking, was instrumental in the Bulldogs' recovery.

He finished the night with 28 possessions and took the points in his personal battle.

Cooney also found strong support from skipper Brad Johnson, who, while sloppy with his disposal, found the ball at will and collected a team-high 30 touches.

Forward Robert Murphy had four different opponents in the first term and was a threat all night.

Twice he fed Hahn with superb passes in the crucial third quarter when the Bulldogs put their foot to the floor.

Hahn has never been the best of kicks but was rewarded for his strong marking and bullocking work on Cale Hooker and later Adam McPhee.

The Bombers needed more from their midfield but the Dogs' lockdown tactics worked a treat.

Jobe Watson, so often a ball magnet this season, was held to just 11 touches by Daniel Cross – his lowest tally since Round 17, 2006.

Watson's struggles helped the Bulldogs dominate the clearances 33-25 and inside 50s, 60-47.

But a discrepancy in inside 50m free kicks – 8-1 in favor of the Bulldogs – would have upset Bomber fans.

The Bulldogs now prepare for their greatest test of the season – a date with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.5, 4.6, 10.9, 15.13 (103)
ESSENDON3.1, 6.2, 8.2, 11.4 (70)
GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Hahn 5, Welsh 3, Higgins 2, Cross, Murphy, Hill, Cooney, Minson.
Essendon: Lloyd 2, Davey, Reimers, Hurley, Winderlich, Hocking, Prismall, Ryder, Lonergan, Stanton.
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Murphy, Johnson, Boyd, Hahn, Lake.
Essendon:Hocking, Prismall, Hurley, Fletcher, Welsh, Stanton.
INJURIES: Western Bulldogs: Nil.
Essendon: Matthew Lloyd (finger).
REPORTS: Nil.
CHANGES: Nil.
UMPIRES: Scott McLaren, Ray Chamberlain, Scott Jeffery.
CROWD: 47,120 at Etihad Stadium.