Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley is the NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for round 20.

Dunkley’s 19 possession, four tackle and three inside 50s performance against North Melbourne on the weekend was enough for the judges to award the Bulldogs their second Rising Star nomination of the season.

Caleb Daniel earned the Club’s first nomination in round four, in the Club’s win over Carlton.

Dunkley, son of former Sydney Swan Andrew Dunkley, was taken at pick No.25 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft after the Swans declined to match the Dogs bid. 

The scouting report on the Gippsland Power product was that he was a contested ball weapon who oozed leadership potential and relished the big moments, and Dunkley has shown signs of all three in the early stage of his AFL career.

The 19-year-old has played 10 games in his debut season for the Club, including the past five, and has transitioned from  playing predominantly a wing, half-forward role to more of an inside midfielder in recent weeks.

“I was probably more of an inside-mid coming through the under 18s," Dunkley told westernbulldogs.com.au

“When I play AFL footy I’m mainly playing like a wing, half forward role, [but] with a  couple of injuries I’ve gotten that opportunity to play inside, I love it.”

After playing in the first two games of the season, Dunkley went back to the VFL to work on his game, a challenge he embraced because by his own admission, he lacked composure in his first couple of outings.

”Coming into your first AFL game, and you’re out there and the crowd’s really big, you get caught up in the moment a fair bit. 

“I think the main thing for me was to focus on my role and the way I play footy.

“Going back to the VFL and having good form before I came in before Collingwood (in round 10) really helped me go to the next level with my footy.”

Dunkley is the Bulldogs’ seventh NAB AFL Rising Star nomination since 2014.