Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said his team would revel in its status as rank underdogs in next week's preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG after ending Sydney's season on Friday night.

The Dogs recorded only their 12th finals victory ever in bouncing back superbly from last week's 51 point mauling at the hands of Hawthorn in the qualifying final to thrash the Swans by 37 points in the second semi final.

But now the Dogs - who will be aiming to reach their first grand final since 1961 - have to confront a team that has won 41 of its past 43 matches and thrashed the Bulldogs by 61 points in their only meeting this year.

However a buoyant Eade said his side showed on Friday night that it deserved to be in the final four this season, having been in the top four all year despite a recent run of six losses in eight games.

"Anything can happen in a two-horse race," Eade said of next week's daunting challenge against the Cats.

"You can't beat them if you are not there but we will go in underdogs and rightfully so."

"No-one will pick us because they are a great team so there is no pressure on us from that aspect but we have got to play well and back ourselves."

However while few people will give the Bulldogs a chance against the might of Geelong next week, beaten Sydney coach Paul Roos wasn't one of them after watching the Dogs overrun his team with a ten goal to four second half.

"If the Dogs play really well and Geelong is a little bit off then they (Geelong) can be beaten," Roos said.

"Geelong are not unbeatable, it's not a fait accompli (that the Cats will make the grand final)."

Eade was proud of the character shown by his players after admitting how much pressure his team had been under following their recent slump.

"People were circling and even some of our supporters jumped off a bit, which was disappointing," he said in reference to the crowd of just 42,731 - the lowest finals crowd at the MCG since 1999.

"But to play the way we did and not let last week's result affect them, particularly with our lack of finals experience, showed character."

"We earned the double chance and we proved tonight we should be in the top four."

Eade also was proud of the way his players hung in during a tight first half when a series of umpiring decisions went against them - including one when the ball was transferred from one end of the ground to another after the Dogs' breached the controversial new interchange rule.

The Dogs did not have an extra player on the field but rather were penalised when Tim Callan entered the field on the wrong side of the interchange line - after Scott Welsh had already come off the ground - so instead of having a shot at goal through Shaun Higgins (who had possession when the breach occurred), the ball was taken to the other end of the ground where Tadhg Kennelly instead had a shot for goal but missed.

Eade described the penalty - which sees the other team awarded a free-kick and a 50 metre penalty - as completely out of proportion to the offence.

"It's a ridiculous penalty," he said.

"Fortunately he (Kennelly) hit the post but it could have been a two goal turnaround."