Clayton was the Western Bulldogs recruiting manager for a decade before leaving to join the fledgling AFL club and said that plucking Lake from South Australia with the 71st selection at the 2001 national was draft was his biggest ever 'steal'.

Lake is best known as an outstanding full-back - an All Australian last year - but it was his energy when thrown forward late on Friday night that helped steal a four-point win over Melbourne that might just have saved their season.

On a wet night, the Bulldogs needed two goals in the last five minutes to win the game. Lake snapped the first, almost kicked the match-winner, and was in amongst it as Ryan Griffen snapped the goal with less than two minutes left to win the game for the Bulldogs.

It was the reverse of last week, when the Dogs, after leading all night, conceded three late goals to lose to St Kilda.

Harris told Channel Seven afterwards that he moved himself forward and it shows his importance to the group that he can make that call without any prompting and with the complete support of the coach.

The win gets the Bulldogs to 4-3 with Sydney in Canberra next weekend to come. 3-4 would have been unfathomable for a side with genuine premiership aspirations but the euphoria of the last-gasp win aside, the Bulldogs need to get a more even contribution across the board than hope for Lake, Adam Cooney and Griffen to lift when needed.

The Demons hadn't graced Friday nights for more than a season and a half and based on what we saw this Friday night, they'll be back in the spotlight sooner, rather than later.

2009's No.1 draft selection Tom Scully played as though he was born to play on Friday nights with 39 touches and perhaps more importantly, 134 DreamTeam points. Those who had pencilled in Nick Naitanui for the Rising Star might want to think again because Scully is making major strides with every game.

He and no.2 selection Jack Trengove led Melbourne in contested possessions, with another rising star - Jack Grimes - narrowly behind them.

The Demons are an attractive side to watch, and when you add Cale Morton, Jack Watts, Ricky Petterd and Liam Jurrah to the mix, there is much case for excitement.

But they need just that bit more hardness and experience - a few too many turnovers and the bigger bodies of the Bulldogs made just enough of a difference at crunch time.