Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club is desperate to re-sign midfielder Josh Dunkley as he weighs up his options after his season ended on Saturday with the loss to Fremantle.
The 25-year-old midfielder has had a long-term offer on the table from the club for close to two months, however he has attracted significant interest from both Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions.
Industry sources say the Port Adelaide offer is considered more attractive than the Lions offer. But that does not mean he will choose to head west, rather than north, to continue his career if he wants a fresh start after a request to join Essendon at the end of 2020 was denied when the Bombers refused to give up two first round picks for him.
Josh Dunkley celebrates a goal against the Dockers.Credit:AFL Photos
There is increasing confidence from the clubs in the race that Dunkley will seek a new home, however the Bulldogs have not given up hope of retaining him given his strong relationships with teammates and the strength of their offer.
Dunkley was one of the Bulldogs’ best in their lost to the Dockers when they gave up a 40-point lead in the elimination final, and Beveridge left no-one in any doubt post-game that he was keen to retain him.
“There are some unknowns. We’re desperate, we hope Josh is going to stay, but I can’t tell you whether he is or whether he isn’t,” Beveridge said.
The Bulldogs coach rued the four unanswered goals his side conceded in the shadows of half-time on Saturday, which gave Fremantle an unforeseen momentum boost and a suddenly manageable 15-point deficit to overcome at the main break.
The Bulldogs hope Dunkley will stay.Credit:Getty Images
“We were up by [over] 40, it’s a significant swing, and it’s bloody disappointing,” Beveridge said.
“The gap was reduced by a significant amount, and we lost that edge on the scoreboard.
“We went away from some things that had served us well in the early parts of the game, and then Fremantle got a little bit better at some of the things they weren’t doing so well.
“They just chipped away, and in the end were just the better side for the length of the game.
“In the end, after being up by so much, it was death by a thousand cuts.”
It remains unclear what clubs would be prepared to offer the Bulldogs in a trade for Dunkley if he chooses to leave, with the Lions also having to gather draft points to select father-son prospects Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher in the 2022 national draft.
Out of contract Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen has been linked to the Gold Coast, while Zaine Cordy and Rhylee West remain unsigned.
Port Adelaide are also hoping to catch up with West Coast’s Junior Rioli before he decides on whether to request a trade to the club who has made him a bigger offer than the Eagles.
The Western Bulldogs lead the race to recruit the Dockers’ Rory Lobb, who remains contracted but is expected to request a trade, and will land defender Liam Jones, who retired from the game late last year after refusing to adhere to the AFL’s COVID vaccination policy. Jones is an unrestricted free agent, with Carlton hoping to receive compensation for losing him.
With Steve Barrett
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