Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains has shed light on the club’s stance surrounding Josh Dunkley’s failed move to Essendon.
Dunkley requested a trade to the Bombers but the two clubs were unable to come to an agreement for the contracted midfielder.
Essendon’s offer of pick 7 and a future second-round selection was rejected by the Bulldogs and Bains says the club placed what they felt was an “appropriate premium” on the premiership player.
“It’s a difficult situation,” Bains told SEN’s Whateley.
“Clearly Josh’s preference was to leave the club and go to Essendon and that was something that whilst initially we were reluctant to entertain at all, Josh was quite convincing in his desire to want to explore that trade.
“The list management team placed what they felt was an appropriate premium on a trade for Josh. Josh is someone that we clearly hold in enormous esteem – he’s a leadership group member at a tender age, he’s been a premiership player.
“He’s the model citizen in all respects so to us the value of him, let alone that he has still has a two-year contract, was enormous.”
Bains is confident Dunkley will put the disappointment of not getting to Essendon behind him before the start of pre-season.
“I think the pleasing part is that while Josh expressed a preference to go, and there’s clearly some work to be done now to bring him back in the fold, he remained on really strong terms with a lot of people within our club,” he said.
“We’re not looking at a situation where we’re trying to repair a fractured relationship, it’s not like he was leaving the club on really bitter and bad terms.
“While Josh and his camp will still be feeling the disappointment of that trade not going through, we’re extremely confident that given those relationships, given the sort of person that Josh is and the professional that he is, we’ll make amends over the coming weeks.
“Pre-season starts in early January so we’re confident that by the time that rolls around we’ll have all moved on and we’ll be ready to go.”
Dunkley’s manager Liam Pickering admits his client felt “a little bit flat” after his requested move to Essendon fell through.