As Josh Dunkley gears up to potentially secure a second consecutive AFL grand final victory, his former team, the Western Bulldogs, and the once-eager Essendon Bombers are left to ponder what might have been. The 28-year-old midfielder has thrived since joining the Brisbane Lions at the end of the 2022 season, earning a reputation as an indispensable team player.
Dunkley’s AFL career began with a bang when he clinched a premiership with the Western Bulldogs in his debut season in 2016. However, the euphoria was tempered by the heartbreak of a grand final loss to Melbourne five years later, during the pandemic-affected era. Despite these ups and downs, Dunkley has continued to demonstrate resilience and determination.
The Trade That Never Was
Back in 2020, Dunkley made headlines with a trade request to Essendon, a move that ultimately fell through. At the time, Essendon valued him as a 23-year-old worth one top-10 draft pick, while the Bulldogs demanded two. Consequently, Dunkley remained with the Bulldogs, and Essendon utilized their first-round picks to select Nik Cox, Archie Perkins, and Zach Reid.
Two years later, Dunkley set his sights on Brisbane, and the Lions were willing to pay the price. They traded pick No.21 in the 2022 draft, along with a first, second, and fourth-round pick for the following year, to secure Dunkley’s services. The Western Bulldogs used the No.21 pick to draft Charlie Clarke, who has since played only one senior match.
Brisbane’s Strategic Recruitments
Brisbane’s recruitment strategy has been a game-changer, with high-profile signings like Charlie Cameron, Lachie Neale, and Joe Daniher contributing significantly to their success. Dunkley, however, has emerged as arguably the most underrated acquisition of the past decade for Brisbane, consistently delivering stellar performances in a star-studded midfield.
His standout moment in 2025 came during a head-to-head clash with newly-crowned Brownlow Medallist Matt Rowell in Round 20, where Rowell dominated the field. Rowell’s impressive stats included 37 disposals, 15 clearances, and 12 tackles, earning him three Brownlow votes.
Redemption and Record-Breaking Performance
Determined to make amends, Dunkley approached coach Chris Fagan before their crucial semi-final against Gold Coast, seeking redemption. Fagan recounted, “He was waiting for this opportunity; he’s an extreme competitor. He doesn’t like lowering his colours to anyone.”
“He was pretty quick to come in last week and say: ‘If you’re okay with it, I want to take Rowell’. That’s the pathway we went down, and he didn’t let us down.”
In that game, Dunkley broke the AFL record for the most tackles in a finals match with 18, effectively neutralizing Rowell while also contributing 20 disposals of his own. Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley remarked, “This wasn’t a game that was played inside a lot … to be able to stick 18 tackles in a game that was largely in translation, that just elevates that performance even further in my mind.”
A Path to Immortality
As Dunkley continues to impress, he has become a key figure in Brisbane’s quest for back-to-back premierships. His defensive prowess was on full display against Collingwood, where he set the tone with four first-term tackles and 10 for the match.
With two grand finals already under his belt and a third premiership within reach, Dunkley’s career trajectory is shaping up to be one of the AFL’s great success stories. Once caught in trade limbo, he now stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and the right career moves.
For the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, Dunkley’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports trades. Meanwhile, Dunkley himself is on the cusp of AFL immortality, proving that sometimes, the right sliding door can lead to extraordinary opportunities.
