Welcome to the Western Bulldogs Josh Dunkley

[lemmon]

Second game back is always tougher. We rolled the dice in the same way we did first final last year and it didn't come off with the ins.

And to be fair to Dunks, he still gave us more than Stringer who was (and has been all year, bar a half against the Saints) completely anonymous.

[Go_Dogs]

Josh Dunkley has been one of our most improved players this year.

He's averaging over 20 disposals, kicks goals (accuracy needs to improve like many others), wins contested ball and clearances, is strong overhead and be a go to marking option, tackles fiercely. Looking back at the Octocall for Biggsy yesterday, Dunkley had a number of involvements in that too - he seems to rise to big moments and when he plays well the team does.

So what are your expectations for Dunkley? How good can he become and where will he play most of his footy next year?

[jeemak]

I think he’s a freak and will become one of the league’s rare breed of genuine forward of centre active marking/goal kicking accumulators.

He’s always going to be a bit shaky in front of goal, but due to his nouse, size and natural talent he’ll get more opportunities than most midfielders to have an impact on the scoreboard.

[Twodogs]

I think he’s a freak and will become one of the league’s rare breed of genuine forward of centre active marking/goal kicking accumulators.

He’s always going to be a bit shaky in front of goal, but due to his nouse, size and natural talent he’ll get more opportunities than most midfielders to have an impact on the scoreboard.

He's going to be a forward half quarterback. I know it's a position that doesn't actually exist but Josh will do at centre half forward what Murph used to do at centre half back. Get by himself, catch and distribute.

[Ozza]

Love this kid. He is so reliable in the contest and his work rate and footy smarts are first rate. Only 21 years old and 43 games in.

[GVGjr]

Josh Dunkley has been one of our most improved players this year.

He's averaging over 20 disposals, kicks goals (accuracy needs to improve like many others), wins contested ball and clearances, is strong overhead and be a go to marking option, tackles fiercely. Looking back at the Octocall for Biggsy yesterday, Dunkley had a number of involvements in that too - he seems to rise to big moments and when he plays well the team does.

So what are your expectations for Dunkley? How good can he become and where will he play most of his footy next year?

He has plenty of ability, there just needs to be smaller gap between his good and bad games and if he improves his goal kicking then he becomes a vastly more dangerous player.

I'd leave him to float between forward and midfield duties with the odd stint as a tagger.

[Topdog]

Only 1 game under 25 disposals (23) in his last 9. Certainly has stepped it up

[comrade]

Would love it if his kicking was 10-15% better but has so many other good attributes (contested bull, great overhead, tough) that it outweighs his kicking issues.

[bulldogtragic]

Dunkley will be our new Clay Smith, the one we were hoping to see 200 games of, without the ACLs.

[GVGjr]

Would love it if his kicking was 10-15% better but has so many other good attributes (contested bull, great overhead, tough) that it outweighs his kicking issues.

And that's about all it needs to be from an improvement perspective. He's got a great attitude and he's fearless so he will become an important player for us.

[EasternWest]

Dunkley will be our new Clay Smith, the one we were hoping to see 200 games of, without the ACLs.

He's always been a good kid, but this year he's looked like a real man. Unbelievably strong and just a great competitor. Plus by all reports he's an awesome kid too. Happy to have him in our colours.

[bulldogtragic]

He's always been a good kid, but this year he's looked like a real man. Unbelievably strong and just a great competitor. Plus by all reports he's an awesome kid too. Happy to have him in our colours.

Yep. Looking in the career best thread, he has upped his output considerably since coming back from the VFL. Breaking career best disposals four times in the last part of the year which is pretty impressive; hitting 27, 30, 34 & 36 total disposals. His performance curve shot up incredibly, now the key for him is to keep it going up by tidying some kicking up and nailing gettable set shots consistently. With another preseason to get even stronger and fitter, he's on my list of players to watch closely in 2019.

[bornadog]

He's always been a good kid, but this year he's looked like a real man. Unbelievably strong and just a great competitor. Plus by all reports he's an awesome kid too. Happy to have him in our colours.

How was that handball from Greene to Dunkley and snap for goal - loved it.

[Testekill]

We were begging for the recruiters to headhunt a big-bodied mid earlier this year but it turns out we had him all along and were playing him way out of position. I'm glad that he hasn't looked back over the past couple of months

[chef]

Two games in and what a hole he's left. Last night was the sort of game he'd stand out in.

Do we have anyone on our list capable of putting in the 2 way effort that Josh had?