Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley has informed the club of his intentions to join Brisbane on a rumoured six-year deal.
Dunkley has been weighing up his future in 2022 after hitting pause on contract talks at Whitten Oval, with the Lions and Port Adelaide in the race for the gun onballer.
The Bulldogs have managed a strong season of re-signings in 2022, with Jack Macrae, Tim English, Bailey Dale, Bailey Smith and Caleb Daniel all recommitting to the club, but Dunkley now looks to have slipped through their fingers.
โJosh has indicated to the club he is seeking to continue his career in Brisbane,โ Bulldogs list boss Sam Power said in a club statement.
โJosh has been weighing up this decision for some time and this news is obviously disappointing for the club.
โWe believe Josh is at the peak of his powers in a football sense having had a career-best season in 2022, averaging 25 disposals and kicking 18 goals across the campaign.
โThe Club was clearly intent on Josh staying with the Bulldogs, having tabled an attractive contract offer for him to continue with us for the long term.โ
โGiven we have only learned the news this morning, we will take some time to work through the Clubโs options leading into the trade period."
The request is Dunkley's second since 2020, having asked to be traded to Essendon two years ago before a deal failed to transpire.
Given Dunkley was contracted at the time, the Dogs were able to retain the Gippsland product until the end of his contract.
With that deal now expiring, Dunkley holds the power to find a second club, while the Lions and Bulldogs will still need to broker a trade to see the midfielder head north.
The six-year-long deal is priced between $700,000-$750,000, according toย News Corp,ย a sum the Bulldogs may have found had to match.
Dunkley polled the most Brownlow votes of any Bulldog in 2022, tallying 14 in Sunday night's count.
