Josh Dunkley channelling Bulldogs’ day as Lions ‘ride wave’ to grand final

Josh Dunkley’s deja vu has not relented as the Brisbane Lions midfielder backed his side to overcome the loss of ruckman Oscar McInerney and “ride the wave home”.

A flag from fifth?

AFL teams’ finish from fifth

2024: Brisbane – made grand final2023: Carlton – lost preliminary final2022: Fremantle – lost semifinal2021: Western Bulldogs – lost grand final2020: West Coast – lost elimination final2019: West Coast – lost semifinal2018: Melbourne – lost preliminary final

The Lions, fifth after the regular season, have overcome steep deficits in semi and preliminary finals to meet minor premiers Sydney in Saturday’s AFL grand final.

Dunkley, the only Lions player boasting a premiership, was part of the Western Bulldogs’ team that came from seventh to win the flag in 2016.

His Bulldogs almost did it again in 2021, coming from fifth only to be thumped in a Perth grand final by Melbourne.

And he played in a third decider last year, Collingwood beating the Lions by four points in an MCG thriller.

The 27-year-old has taken wisdom from that trio of experiences but naturally gravitated back to 2016.

“It’s either the best day of your life, or the worst,” he said before the team’s final Brisbane session on Tuesday.

“You dare to dream and I get goosebumps … it feels like a lot of similarities (to 2016) but we all know you’ve got to go and do your job.

“The Swans have been the best team all year; it will be a huge challenge but … we’re on a bit of wave at the moment, riding it and hopefully we can ride it all the way home.”

Brisbane Lions player Oscar McInerney to miss AFL grand final

Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney will be the heartbreak story of the Lions’ second grand final appearance in as many years after dislocating his shoulder.

Darcy Fort looks the man likely to replace McInerney (shoulder) on Saturday, the in-form ruckman and fellow contender Henry Smith both training with the group on Tuesday.

The assignment is the containment of Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy, who could dominate the stoppages if given the chance.

“It’s a massive out for us but he’s been a huge supporter of us and there’s a hard luck story every year,” Dunkley said of McInerney, who bravely played on after dislocating his shoulder against Geelong on Saturday.

“The biggest thing for me, on grand final day with 23 players contributing it’s going to be a very hard team to beat and that’s what we had in 2016.

“I’ll do anything I possibly can for the team to help us win.

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“I look forward to whatever challenge it is, but we’ll play our way too and … hopefully take it up to them.”

Close to 3000 fans made the journey to the Lions’ Brighton Homes Arena base, about 40km out of central Brisbane, for Tuesday’s open session.

The team will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday, a day earlier than last year, and train twice before Saturday’s game.

“Did feel a little bit rushed, so we’ve worked it out from experience and it’ll help us get settled in, two runs there and embrace grand final week and what it means,” Dunkley said.

AAP