If Brisbane coach Chris Fagan had his way, selfless midfielder Josh Dunkley would be a Brownlow Medallist.
Dunkley was at his two-way best in Saturday's thrilling Grand Final win over Fremantle, laying a game-high 12 tackles and applying two crucial back-to-back smothers to help deliver a third consecutive flag.
The Lions co-captain often sat on Dockers star and Norm Smith Medallist Shai Bolton as well as Caleb Serong, attempting to limit the influence of Fremantle's prime movers.
All the while he recorded 21 touches, 30 pressure acts and eight intercept possessions, playing the ultimate team role.
"We look at footy, and there are Brownlow Medals, and there are all these media awards and things that go on, and now we're all guilty of it. We look at the stats, and we go, ' Oh yeah, he had the most touches or most clearances or kicked the most goals. We tend to give votes in that manner," Fagan said on SEN.
"But Josh, if you had added up his possessions and clearances with pressure acts every week, he'd win the Brownlow every year.
"We are so lucky to have him at our club. What he's done since he's arrived. We've been in four grand finals since he joined our club. I'm not saying it's all him, but goodness me, he's set such an example on that side of the game that his teammates can only follow him.
"Even on the weekend, some of his smothers and tackles were just amazing. I just wish players like that could win the Brownlow because they play the game 360 (degrees). They do it all."
In stark contrast to Fagan's wishes, Dunkley didn't poll a vote in the 2026 Brownlow Medal. The most he's received from the umpires is 15 in 2019. His career total is 62 in 11 completed seasons.
Across 2026, Dunkley ranked fifth for average pressure acts in the competition (23.3), and leads the AFL in average tackles (7).
Saturday's triumph was the 29-year-old's sixth grand final and fourth flag in what has largely been a successful year.
Dunkley won a premiership in his first year at the Western Bulldogs in 2016, and has added three more medals so far at the Lions.
He has won two best and fairest (one at each of the Lions and Bulldogs) and was promoted to co-captain this year.
