‘PONY UP’: WANTAWAY DOG LEAVES A WINNER
WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the Brisbane Lions will have to “pony up” after Lions-bound midfielder Josh Dunkley walked out of the club on a high by taking out his first club best and fairest award on Wednesday.
Dunkley, 25, showed the depth of his talent throughout 2022, playing every game, but powered home late, polling 52 votes in the final three rounds, which included a season-high 33 disposals against Fremantle in round 21, to hold out teammate Tom Liberatore to win the Charles Sutton Medal. Power forward Aaron Naughton, who kicked a career-high 51 goals, came third, with captain Marcus Bontempelli fourth.
The midfielder adds the best and fairest award to the premiership medallion he won with the Bulldogs in 2016, having played 116 games since his debut that AFL season, with his 584 disposals in 2022 second only to the 651 he racked up in 2019.
Despite Beveridge declaring the club was “desperate” for Dunkley to stay, the midfielder officially nominated the Lions as his preferred 2023 destination two years after being denied a move to Essendon.
Beveridge said the Lions would need to come up with solid money now Dunkley was a club champion.
“We’ve had a couple of conversations since and the most deflating one was when he called me to let me know what the decision was,” the coach said.
“It’s a real shame. I describe Josh as the glue in our team. He does all the hard team things unconditionally and we’re going to need more of that from his former teammates next year.”