“Being able to believe in this brand and enjoy the journey, that’s what 2016 was and I feel that’s who we are now.
“The boys know that our best football is pretty good, and all you have to do now is believe and do it on the day of the match. Dunkley also said that the Lions had the advantage of playing a playoff final at home, after having been placed fifth in the standings the Bulldogs finished seventh in 2016.
“Having a home final is incredible,” said Dunkley, who insisted that “any team” in the top eight can win the title this season.
“This year more than any other year, it’s about who shows up on the big day. You have to find your mental space, prepare your physical body and then it is the one that shows up on the big day.
“If someone is a little bit behind, the other team will win. It’s just crazy how that happened.” The Lions, beaten finalists last year, have won nine games in a row in the second half of this season to secure sixth consecutive finals place after a poor start to the 2024 season: “I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and at the beginning of the season we were challenged on the field and off the field, and we learned from it” , Dunkley said.
“Being able to learn from all these experiences makes us a better team now than we were last year. We are in a very good state of mind at the moment.”
In his second season with Brisbane, Dunkley was again outstanding, although he often did not get enough credit – from those outside the club – for his work on the field. “I don’t really care,” he said.
“I’m here to help my teammates improve and I’m not the guy who wants my name in the spotlight all week. “I like to be in the club every day to help the boys, to make them better, because it also helps me improve.
“I love my football more than ever. I love being part of the Lions Football Club and the way they have treated me since I made my debut has been incredible.
“I like the direction we’re going.”