Western Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley officially requests trade

An AFL star officially confirmed his plans to depart, with his club leaving the door ajar despite a previous hardline stance over his contract.

Josh Dunkley wants to be a Bomber.

The rumours surrounding Josh Dunkley were scoffed at when they were first brought to light.

On Thursday however they were officially confirmed when his manager Liam Pickering announced his client had requested a trade to join Essendon.

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The star midfielder is wanting to join the Bombers after enduring a frustrating season with the Bulldogs that saw his midfield time diminish.

“On behalf of Josh, I’ve let the Bulldogs know that he is keen to get to the Bombers. It’s really up to the Bombers and the Dogs to get together and get something worthwhile to make it happen,” Pickering said on AFL Trade Radio.

“He does want to play as a midfielder. There wasn’t those opportunities this year and it was frustrating for him.”

Damning rumours surrounding the Bulldogs culture were reported as the reasoning behind Dunkley’s move. They were quickly slammed by the Bulldogs and Pickering backed up their comments, saying the move was purely based upon on field frustrations.

“I’ve read the reports and they’re just not true. It’s purely an on field and playing situation for Josh,” he said.

“It’s now up to the Bombers to deliver a scenario that the Bulldogs might think twice about.”

It’s very popular to bag Essendon. Josh Dunkley wants to go there. And has done for weeks as per my reports. The bombers have done a great job. I hope it happens

— Tom Browne (@TomBrowne7) November 5, 2020

SEN’s Sam Edmund reported Essendon had offered Dunkley a lucrative four-year contract worth approximately $650,000-700,000 a season.

Dunkley remains contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of the 2022 season and has played 78 games with the Bulldogs since making his AFL debut in 2016.

The Bulldogs have remained defiant in their stance they will hold onto the 23-year-old, a position that hasn’t changed despite Dunkley’s trade request.

A club statement reiterated that stance, but left the door open for the club to improve the playing list through the Trade Period and AFL Draft.

“Josh is a required player at the Bulldogs, who has two years remaining on a contract which was extended by three years in June 2019,” the statement read.

“The club has been in frequent dialogue with Josh and his management over the past few weeks, and reiterated its intention for him to remain a Western Bulldogs player.

“Accordingly, the Bulldogs remain committed to improving our playing list through the Trade Period and the National Draft, to build on back-to-back seasons of playing in the AFL Finals.”

Dunkley could add to a loaded Bombers midfield.

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph revealed Dunkley had become frustrated with how he was being managed at the Bulldogs.

“During the single final, he played only 30 per cent of game time in the midfield. I think he just feels he doesn’t want to be playing at half-forward, he doesn’t want to be playing in the ruck,” Ralph said on AFL Tonight.

“He got hit-outs in seven of the 12 games, he’s been pushed to a wing at times. In that amazing year last year when he had 650 possessions he was played mostly in the midfield.”

After averaging 28.3 disposals per game as a midfielder last year, Dunkley could only muster 18.3 per match during the 2020 season.