With the clash shifted to Ann Ashwood Oval as a to give the quagmire at Endeavour Oval a chance to rest, Emus rocketed to a 17-0 lead and were never headed, despite a gritty showing from the premiers on home soil.

The Bulldogs clawed its way back to a deficit of just two points with 16 minutes remaining in the contest,

Emus defended with spirit, though, and it's that sort of defence that's enabled Pete Bromley's men to navigate this year's tricky COVID-campaign undefeated so far.

"They gritted it out, it wasn't the prettiest football and I'd prefer to be attacking, not defending, but you've got to do both in footy and the last 20 minutes it was good to defend it out," Bromley said, his side conceding just four tries before Saturday's clash with the Bulldogs.

"We made a lot of errors and put ourselves under pressure, that's what happens if you make mistakes against good teams, you know you'll have to do a lot of defending.

"So it was pleasing to come over here, our home game turning into an away game, but getting the win and securing the minor premiership ... it was a good thing to do."

Dogs boss Matt McRobert said a lot like Emus, his side just couldn't execute when it mattered most.

"We didn't respect the ball enough. Emus are a team that, when you get a chance, you've got to take it and we didn't do that," Bulldogs coach Matt McRobert said.

"If we want to win those games we've got to learn to respect the ball and get our shoulders on the other side of defence, be patient and work for our opportunities.

"We know we can score points when we keep it simple and respect the ball, but we didn't do that today."

Early on, Archie Hall continued his rich vein of try-scoring form, crossing shortly after Nigel Staniforth booted the game's first penalty goal, together shooting the greens out to a 10-0 lead.

Staniforth then did it all himself to cross for Emus' second try, slicing between two defenders down the left wing, using his speed and size to get him over the line.

His conversion then made it 17-0 after 23 minutes.

Tries to Riley Hanrahan and Brad Glasson - and a Kurt Weekes conversion - ensured the hosts remained in the contest at 17-12 and, really, with the man advantage after Jack Marchinton was handed a yellow card, Bulldogs had to make amends.

They couldn't, and when Carter Hirini combined with Harry Cummins to complete a stunning 60-metre effort and score Emus' third try, it was lights out for the premiers at 24-12.

Adam Plummer's try was a consolation effort, and Weekes and Staniforth traded late penalty goals as time wound down, Emus coming away with the five-point victory.