An excellent small forward or a quality key back.
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So are you guys up for trading Dunkley?
In a vacuum yes. He is the highest value player we have that is surplus to our needs, although I guess you could argue Macrae is a slightly more valuable player and Dunkley could take his spot if he left.
However, Dunkley is perfect off field, well behaved, presents well, seems to be popular in the playing group (was he voted into the leadership group) and is tight with Bontempelli who comes out of contract next year and is the last person we want to annoy. Also the context matters, if Dunkley wants out then so be it, but if it's us pushing him out I think it doesn't go down well with the group, which could be a big risk.
I guess the flipside is even if we piss of the playing group it isn't like we are overperforming anyway so as long as we don't lose anyone important out of it we probably stand to benefit.
Excellent response, to a post that was tongue in cheek!
I agree with all of that. Though, with a couple of months after the original post as water under the bridge it just doesn't look like there's a player on the market worth swapping for and my original post didn't take into account our points scenario with JUH.
Perhaps given Dunkley is contracted for another two years this year wouldn't be the one to pull the trigger anyway?
Dunkley is arguably one of our best half a dozen players and a good Premiership player as well. Dunkley is the sort of person you build good teams around. We have been unsettled both in defence and attack plus an over reliance on English as a sole ruckman. The department that has enabled us to at least make the finals in the past two years has been our midfield with Dunkley being a key part of this unit. We should be doing all possible to retain him IMO.
For the sake of the exercise ... say Sydney dangles Papley to land an apparent to Josh Kennedy and make amends for foolishly shunning the son of a very dour gun via father-son.
Are we listening?
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FWIW unless he's fangin' to leave I think we're nuts if we move Dunks on, you don't tear at the fabric like that, especially when it's 23 years old.
As a footnote, JUH also spent a week living with him. Whilst that was an exercise with undoubtedly numerous goals, bonding and forming a relationship to make Jamarra infinitely more comfortable would be high on that list.
Shipping the bloke you get him to form a relationship with off to Jamarra's boyhood team (Essington) is Inception levels of madness.
For what it’s worth, a family member received a direct message from Josh last night saying he hadn’t spoken with Essendon and he’s not going anywhere.
These fabricated stories are just unfair and unethical on a myriad of levels.
In light of that you wonder how these things get started.
Perhaps
Journalist (Loosely Defined term) trawls internet for footy stories
Stumbles on thread on WOOF
Assumes that because fans discuss the logic that Dunkley is gettable.
Questions from his/her own limited intellect ... which club could really use Josh Dunkley
.. answers rhetorical question clearly Essington
Starts story that Dunkley may be gettable and Essington would be interested..
Essington asked if they would be interested and answer is Yes Please!!
Story now has legs and official rumourmonger has clicks plus Essington fans all in love with the idea.
Can now keep stoking until end of trade period.
Essendon honestly believe that its unfair other teams have players they want.