Josh Dunkley’s improvement ‘off the charts’ says Luke Beveridge

Josh Dunkley’s jaw-dropping first quarter set the tone for the Western Bulldogs’ crushing win over Essendon, and it continued his remarkable rise since a pivotal coaching move in Round 7.

Bulldog Josh Dunkley. Pic: Michael Klein

What was Luke Beveridge thinking?

For the first six weeks of the season, Josh Dunkley spent only 40 per cent of game time in midfield as the Dogs welcomed back Tom Liberatore to their on-ball mix.

When Bulldogs coach Beveridge relented in Round 7 and pushed Dunkley into the middle, where he flourished in the second half of 2018, he amassed 35 disposals against Richmond.

The contested-ball magnet has made Marvel Stadium his own since, registering 35 possessions or more in six of his past nine games at the venue.

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Dunkley led a ferocious midfield that kept the Bulldogs in finals contention by inspiring one of the most emphatic victories in the club’s history over a hapless Essendon on Saturday night.

He had a jaw-dropping 11 contested possessions after 19 minutes, 26 disposals by halftime and finished with a game-high 39.

Josh Dunkley charges away from Zac Clarke. Picture: Michael Klein

Beveridge jokingly questioned post-match why Dunkley couldn’t keep up his ridiculous numbers.

“I had a crack at him. What did he have, 12 contested possessions in the first quarter and he only had 23 for the game. So I just ripped him apart for dropping off.

“He’s strong. I have said it before. I’ve never seen a player — many players improve quickly. I’m so grateful to the work that our players have been doing with our coaches and our conditioning staff and our medical staff behind the scenes.

“We have seen enormous growth in individuals that are helping us play better. Dunks is an example of a player whose growth has been really off the charts in the last year, year and a half. It was another night where the opposition would have found it really difficult to play against him. He’s so courageous and I think he used the ball pretty well out of congestion. His hands were good.

“He sets a bloody fine example.”

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Luke Beveridge says Josh Dunkley’s improvement has been ‘off the charts’. Picture: Michael Klein

Dunkley’s 16 possessions at quarter-time were more than he had against Collingwood and Carlton in Rounds 4 and 5.

The 22-year-old capped a stunning first half with a running goal which underlined the ease with which the Bulldogs carved Essendon apart.

From a contest on the wing where the Bombers originally had two players against one, Toby McLean fired a handball to Sam Lloyd who pinpointed Bailey Dale after he slipped Essendon captain Dyson Heppell.

Dunkley surged from the centre square unmarked, receiving a handball from Dale before dribbling through a goal that sent the Bulldogs 32 points clear at quarter-time.

It was just a taste of the onslaught that would unfold.

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Dunkley, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae were unrelenting in the middle, far outclassing their Bomber counterparts.

The quartet combined for 137 disposals, compared to 123 from Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell, Dylan Shiel, Kyle Langford and Andrew McGrath, Essendon’s five leading possession-winners.

Macrae (38 disposals) had tagger Dylan Clarke for company from the first bounce but had shaken clear of his stubborn attention by midway through the second term.

Hunter (34) was a willing ally for Dunkley, taking the honours in a wing duel with Merrett.

The Bulldogs midfield has an insatiable appetite and Saturday night was akin to football’s version of an all-you-can-eat buffet.

But with GWS and Adelaide between them and a finals berth, you sense the Dogs will treat their Bomber feast as a mere appetiser.