Josh Dunkley, the match-winning midfielder for the Brisbane Lions showed astonishing grittiness in forcing himself out for his fifth grand final. His performances propelled the club to a huge upset preliminary final win over Geelong. With this victory, Dunkley has achieved his third premiership success. Having already savored success as head coach of the Western Bulldogs in 2016, Longmuir was nevertheless dealt a heartbreaking defeat in 2021. The competition final was played on [insert date of final], further testimony to Dunkley’s dedication to present team even when times turned tough.
Dunkley came over to the Lions at the end of 2022. He, too, has in a short time already become a mainstay of the pack. His path to this year’s grand final was not without its challenges. This time last week in the preliminary final against Collingwood, Dunkley was involved in a tackle and suffered a grade-three syndesmosis injury. In spite of this injury, he was set on being able to play in the championship game.
Early this week, I got a call from the doctor’s office. You aren’t going to miss this. He assured me, “We’ll get you up for it.” Dunkley remembered, praising the care he received from the training staff.
And his resolve was showcased west of the Hindmarsh goal throughout the rank-rotting grand final. Despite being in the midst of monumental pain from his foot injury, Dunkley played a massive role in the Lions’ success. He acknowledged the level of discomfort he was in, stating, “not great — I will admit that. It’s worth every bit of pain.”
Those next few days will be difficult for Dunkley as he gets set for a shoulder reconstruction, which is booked for next Tuesday. Rashod Bateman will require an ankle procedure following the surgery. This is what will make him take a step back from the battlefield. Dunkley had said his type of injury generally requires six to eight weeks of recovery before he would return to playing.
Teammate and close friend Harris Andrews lauded Dunkley’s impact and character. He is a warrior. He’s tough, he’s resilient, his mindset is incredible,” Andrews said. To drive home Dunkley’s importance to the unit, he referred to him as “the best teammate on earth.”
In reflecting on his experience with the Lions, Dunkley expressed his commitment to continuous improvement. “We’ve got 10 weeks to get better now in the off-season. I will do anything for this club.” His focus on leadership during the season has been paramount. He said, “It wasn’t about the kicks, marks and handballs for me, it was more about the leadership and helping our guys just go to work.”
Dunkley’s path has time and again proved his determination and resolve. Coach Chris Fagan flagged Dunkley’s development as among the more lauded celebrated “cockroaches” on the team culture. This term is used to describe players who are incredibly gritty and determined to get it done.
While Dunkley is hopeful for continued recovery and success in future seasons, he takes pride in what he’s already done. Speaking about his third premiership win, he said, “It’s insane, I don’t even know how to believe it. Both on the field and as a voice in the locker room, his contributions have proved invaluable for the Lions. They are definitely looking to continue that success going forward.
