Josh Dunkley is a bit of a forgotten man in fantasy for this AFL season so far, given that he had an early bye. Coming off that bye this week, he should definitely have come into calculations if you were looking at a sideways trade of one of your premium midfielders. His first two matches showed that he has lost none of his accumulating skills, with or without Lachie Neale in the side. For those still carrying the likes of Jai Newcombe, it would be very tempting to burn a trade in a year where trades are not nearly as rare as they used to be in the old days.
Josh Dunkley is a bit of a forgotten man in fantasy for this AFL season so far, given that he had an early bye. Coming off that bye this week, he should definitely have come into calculations if you were looking at a sideways trade of one of your premium midfielders. His first two matches showed that he has lost none of his accumulating skills, with or without Lachie Neale in the side. For those still carrying the likes of Jai Newcombe, it would be very tempting to burn a trade in a year where trades are not nearly as rare as they used to be in the old days.
Josh Dunkley was one of the underpriced premiums you wanted in your starting side for the 2022 fantasy season. Designated as a forward due to positional shenanigans by coach Like Beveridge in the previous year, he has settled into pretty much full time midfield this campaign, and has delivered a big ton almost every week as a consequence. A poor score last round plus a rest from training midweek may have had some with an itchy trigger finger on the trade button, but he suits up tonight to try to grind out a full 22-game season.
Josh Dunkley had his ups and downs in 2020, asked to play ruck at times and disaffected by this (and other factors) badly enough that he asked for a trade in the off season, which didn't end up happening. Like Ryan O'Keefe before him, however, Dunkley has showed the ultimate professionalism by putting his nose right back on the grindstone to deliver what we know he is capable of producing to start 2021. The only possible blip on his radar is Adam Treloar being moved from a wing more to an inside role, but Dunkley's all-around game should be good enough to withstand that.
Josh Dunkley has been the subject of some media chatter lately as he has been used as a de facto second ruckman at times in recent weeks, though he is not the only midfielder to do so giving young Tim English a spell. Normally you see a key forward as back up ruck but Luke Beveridge has decided to hold his structure forward of the ball and tell his mids to jump (and lose) in ruck, which can tend to limit the player's ability to generate clearances. Dunkley's Supercoach numbers are still strong but his Dream Team average has dropped below startable levels, weirdly.
Power slam by junk yard dog
With forward eligibility under his belt Josh Dunkley was one of the best performers of last year, finishing with the sixth-highest fantasy tally. After splitting time between midfield and attack in the early rounds, Dunkley entered hulk mode averaging a pig-like 124 between rounds 7 and 23. All of his 11 games of 30+ touches came during that time.
Opposition taggers will look to others with more hurt factor, so Dunkley should roam free. With a ceiling higher than most, he's a certified match winner. Despite losing forward status for 2020, he should be drafted in the first or second round as a pure midfielder without question, as the Bulldogs have moved away from rotating players like him through attack.
From air ball to slam dunk
Utilised as a forward with irregular stints in the midfield early last season, Josh Dunkley was moved to near-permanent midfield following a round 14 recall and enjoyed a breakout series of performances, going from a single 20-disposal day from his first nine performances to hitting that mark in the last nine straight. In that last run, he averaged 28 touches, five marks and seven tackles, all significant improvements on his early season figures. Recognised as a midfielder throughout his junior career, the former second -round draft pick spent much of his first two seasons in the forward 50. Struggling with various injuries around his draft year, Dunkley’s running capacity improved with a healthy 2018 campaign. A bona fide midfielder selectable in the forward line, expect him to be off the board within the opening few rounds.
Unlucky Dunkley
Coming off an ankle reconstruction, Josh Dunkley had a late start to 2017 and then popped a shoulder out to lose all continuity and never regain the form of the previous September. He did not add to his rather low tally of three 20-disposal efforts in 23 career matches. Assuming a good preseason, Dunkley should step into the HFF role vacated by Jake Stringer. He is a definite watch in the JLT, as his upside is far higher than his trailing average and could deliver at least middle-round value for a late pick.
