They grew up together, their lockers are side by side at Whitten Oval, and on Saturday night they will run out together for the first time as Western Bulldogs players.

Lukas Webb has been named in the side to face North Melbourne on Saturday night alongside childhood friend and best mate Josh Dunkley, and despite being drafted a year apart, their journey into the senior side has been similar.

Both spent the early part of their career in the team before falling out and having to work their way back in, and while Dunkley has played nine of a possible 19 games so far this season, Webb has played just the two.

The work and resilience to succeed at AFL level is something the Gippsland products’ discuss regularly.

“Webby and I are close friends as everybody knows, but the main thing for him is he knows what he has to do,” Dunkley said.

“I think he knows that if he’s picked he’ll go out and do his thing, but if he isn’t he’ll go and keep continuing his form.

But the similarities don’t end there.  Both players have had to adjust their game to break into the senior side, with Webb being transformed into an inside midfielder this season. 

Webb success in making the transition is evident, averaging 25 possessions a game in the VFL, including games of 30 and 37 disposals over the past two weeks.

Adding a new dimension to your game to gain an AFL berth is something that Dunkley can relate to.

“I was probably more of an inside-mid coming through the under 18s, [but] when I play AFL footy I’m mainly playing like a wing, half-forward role. 

“With a  couple of injuries I’ve gotten that opportunity to play inside, I love it.  I think it’s the same thing for Lukas, that adjustment to that new role, it takes a while but he’s starting to get rewards now.”