The West Coast Eagles have claimed a stirring upset win and climbed off the bottom of the AFL ladder with a heart-stopping seven-point victory over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Inspired by Tim Kelly's brilliance in midfield, Elliot Yeo's ferocity, Jamie Cripps' five-goal bag and huge performances from leaders Oscar Allen, Jeremy McGovern and Liam Duggan, the Eagles responded to an RAC Derby shocker with an epic road win.

With their season on the line, the Bulldogs were ambushed by a team that had won just four of its previous 47 games.

Trailing by nine points at three-quarter time, West Coast finished stronger than its opposition with the first four goals of the last term to score a famous 14.8 (92) to 12.13 (85) triumph.

The result drags the Eagles off the bottom of the ladder for the first time since May 21, meaning they will avoid claiming the club's second wooden spoon if North Melbourne doesn't beat Gold Coast next week.

Brownlow Medal favourite Marcus Bontempelli (32 disposals, one goal) typically led from the front for the Dogs, while Adam Treloar (32 and one) and Rory Lobb (three goals) were important.

But outside of that trio, the Bulldogs lacked the spark that Eagles guns Kelly (32 disposals, eight clearances), Jamie Cripps (five goals, including three in the last quarter) and Allen (three goals) had in spades.

Duggan finished with 25 hard-fought disposals, while McGovern took nine marks and was a colossus in defence. 

McGovern looked to be in serious trouble with an arm and foot injury in the second quarter but returned to play out a crucial role in the victory.

The only downside was a hamstring injury suffered by Eagles premiership hero Yeo that will likely rule him out of the last round.

West Coast will end a challenging season next week at home against Adelaide, hoping retiring skipper Luke Shuey (hamstring) and champion Shannon Hurn (Achilles) will be fit to farewell the fans in their last games of illustrious careers.

WESTERN BULLDOGS          3.2     5.7     10.10     12.13 (85)
WEST COAST                         5.3     7.6        9.7       14.8 (92)

GOALS 
Western Bulldogs: Lobb 3, West, Weightman, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Scott, Naughton, English, Bontempelli, Baker
West Coast: Cripps 5, Allen 3, Darling 2, Yeo, Trew, Maric, Hunt

 BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, English, Lobb, Richards, Jones
West Coast: Kelly, Cripps, Duggan, Allen, McGovern, Gaff

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Nil
West Coast: Yeo (hamstring), McGovern (foot)