Josh Dunkley plans to celebrate 150th AFL appearance with win over Tigers

The wise words of Richmond great Trent Cotchin could count against the Tigers in a milestone encounter for a key Brisbane Lions player.

Milestone man Josh Dunkley’s growth as a leader under the guidance of Richmond legend Trent Cotchin will come in handy as Brisbane confronts an embattled Tigers outfit desperate to claim a “scalp” at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The retired Cotchin joined the Lions this season in a mentoring role for Brisbane’s leadership group, which includes vice-captain Dunkley.

“He’s been a sounding board for us and constantly in contact and checking in, and trying to help us grow in that leadership space,” Dunkley said of the man who captained Richmond to premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

“He’s been a great acquisition for us, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Dunkley’s poise and direction will be needed this weekend by the Lions, whose season, according to coach Chris Fagan, is on a “razor’s edge” after winning just three games from nine.

“It’s obviously not where we’d like to be with our position at the moment, but at the same time, I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason,” Dunkley said.

“We’re obviously being troubled by injury and form, but at the same time, we’re learning a lot from these experiences, and hopefully that holds us in good stead moving forward.”

Josh Dunkley hopes to celebrate his 150th AFL appearance with a win on Saturday. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dunkley promised the Lions would not take victory for granted against a Tigers team that’s under heavy scrutiny after losing eight of its nine matches this season.

“They’ve still got a lot of their premiership players in the team, so for us, it’s going to be attacking the game like we have every week and expecting their best because they’re going to come up here trying to take a scalp.

“It’s going to be on us to really start well and embrace the challenge that they’re going to bring.”

Dunkley, a premiership winner with the Western Bulldogs in 2016, is also intent on celebrating what he describes as an “in-between milestone” of 150 AFL appearances with a win.

“It does still make you reflect on the whole journey I’ve had both here and at the Western Bulldogs. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to run out and play 150 games, and hopefully there’s a few more to come,” the 27-year-old midfielder said.

It will be more than a “few” actually if Dunkley achieves his goal of playing more AFL matches than his father, Sydney stalwart Andrew Dunkley, who made 217 top-flight appearances for the Swans from 1992 to 2002.

“I’d be lying to say I wasn’t chasing down the old man’s 217 games,” Josh said.

“Hopefully, I get to that at one point.”