The Western Bulldogs have been left furious by reports that Josh Dunkley’s motivation to leave the club was because of cultural issues, according to SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund.
Despite having two years left on his contract, Dunkley has reportedly told senior officials at the Dogs of his interest in leaving the club to take up a multi-year offer at Essendon.
Edmund shed some more light on the developing situation between the talented on-baller and Western Bulldogs, saying the club were “furious” with some reports in previous days.
“I’ve spoken to the Dogs on Josh Dunkley and they are furious,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“They are furious with a report a couple of days ago that said that Josh’s main motivation to leave Whitten Oval was because of long-standing culture issues that have been left to fester for years – the Dogs have rubbished that completely.
“The facts are that Josh Dunkley wasn’t happy with the Lachie Hunter indiscretion earlier this year and no one at the club was obviously, but he was also disappointed at different things in hub life this year and some of the standards that came to be.
“But that was widespread in the competition, in that the footy professionalism wasn’t where it would normally be.
“If Dunkley has an issue with one or two players that aren’t as professional as they need to be, it shouldn't be assumed that he feels there's long-standing cultural issues that have been going on for years.
"Dunkley isn’t considering leaving for cultural reasons - the reasons he is because he’s been sold the massive midfield dream. He’ll be the big banana in there.
"The lure of that, plus a big contract that conservatively speaking is worth $700,000 a season.
"And also the lure of playing with his brother Kyle is unbelievable. They are very close – the whole family is.
"He is still torn. He has days he leans to Essendon and days he leans to staying."
Essendon is currently on the lookout for a big-bodied midfielder to support the likes of Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath, Dyson Heppell and Darcy Parish, with Dunkley appearing to fit the bill.
The Bulldogs have recently expressed their intention to hold the 23-year-old to his contract.