Western Bulldogs defender Michael Sellwood has called on the AFL to ban the spectator who called him a "weak something" in a sour aftermath to the thrilling win over Hawthorn.

Sellwood played a key role blunting Hawks livewire Nick Watson as the Bulldogs overturned a 29-point deficit in their 12.5 (77) to 9.17 (71) victory at the MCG on Friday night.

The pair were involved in a running battle throughout the contest, with tension boiling over multiple times.

A scuffle between them after the quarter-time siren led to an all-in melee, lighting the fuse in a fiery encounter.

Sellwood ultimately came out on top but took exception to a comment from a spectator while Bulldogs players were celebrating post-match.

"I'm not going to repeat what he said ... but I wasn't happy with it," Sellwood told Seven.

"He cowered a bit pretty quickly ... I pointed him out and he cowered a bit, which was quite funny.

"Hopefully, he gets kicked out or something, I don't know."

Watson kicked three goals from nine disposals and spent time in the midfield before half-time as Sellwood was forced off the ground to have an ankle injury assessed.

The Hawthorn star taunted his opponent in a broadcast interview at the main break.

"He's giving me a bit," Watson told Kayo Sports.

"I don't care if he talks, as long as he walks the walk. I'd love to see it in the second half."

The man dubbed 'The Wizard' got his wish, with Sellwood restricting him to just two disposals after halftime.

The influential performance came just six days after Sellwood took the match-saving mark in a narrow win over Collingwood.

Dogs coach Luke Beveridge was full of praise for the 22-year-old, who was recruited in last year's mid-season rookie draft and made his debut in opening round.

"He showed enormous courage and played through pain, and in the end he got a pretty important scalp," Beveridge said.

The Bulldogs' win was their fourth by a single-figure margin in their past five games, and sixth in total this season, lifting them into fifth on the ladder with an 8-5 record.

It also ended the Dogs' five-match losing streak against Hawthorn (8-4-1), who sit third.

"We did come here tonight knowing that we have significantly lowered our colours against the Hawks the last couple of years," Beveridge said.

"That eats at you, no matter who you play.

"Usually when we come up against them we believe that we can win, so when they continually get the four points, their application maybe in some aspects has been a bit higher.

"And it was at the start of this game, but we were able to tilt it in our favour just through will and determination."

The Bulldogs face a third consecutive six-day break as they prepare to host Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.