Star midfielder Josh Dunkley has no concerns about walking back through the doors at VU Whitten Oval.

In fact, it’s something he’s already looking forward to.

The 23-year-old had requested a move to Essendon through the trade period, but with two years remaining on his current contract, the Bombers were unable to get a deal done for the highly-respected Bulldog. 

Dunkley has already put that trade situation in the rear-view mirror.

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Josh Dunkley | 'Excited about what we can do'

Josh Dunkley speaks publicly for the first time since the end of the 2020 AFL Trade Period, after he remained a Bulldogs player.

“Always in the back of my mind I knew it was a possibility after coming out and asking to go to Essendon,” he said.

“With all respect, the Bulldogs really held onto me and made it a challenge for Essendon to get me.

“It’s nice to know you are wanted at the club and I’m really excited to get back there and get to work.”

Dunkley has caught up with senior coach Luke Beveridge since the trade period and has had plenty of support from teammates during a challenging period.

It’s nice to be able to go back now and really put my head down and earn that respect. If I have lost any from those people, I’ll work hard to get that back.

- Josh Dunkley

“I spoke to Bevo, I caught up with him the other night in Melbourne,” he said.

“We had a good chat. I’d spoken to him a lot through the process as well, (and) Chris Grant, Sam Power and Ameet Bains were the big four I’d spoken to and my teammates as well, so they were very supportive.

“I definitely feel comfortable. The boys have made me feel really comfortable, it’s obviously a challenge because it’s not every day someone asks to move.

“It’s nice to be able to go back now and really put my head down and earn that respect. If I have lost any from those people, I’ll work hard to get that back.” 

After an injury-interrupted season, Dunkley has his sights set on winning back the midfield spot he made his own in 2019, when he finished runner-up in the Bulldogs’ best and fairest and in the All Australian squad of 40.

With off-season addition Adam Treloar also set for midfield minutes, he knows he’ll have to work hard to find his place in amongst the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore and Bailey Smith.

“You can’t just roll into a footy club and think you’re going to play midfield time, you’ve got to really put your head down and work hard,” Dunkley said.

“That’s what I’m going to do.

“From the moment last week when (the trade) didn’t go through, I was back at it the next day training.

“I’m looking forward to what we can do in 2021.”