Talks ‘productive’ with star midfielder

WESTERN Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains has provided an update on Josh Dunkley’s contract status.

Bains has revealed the Bulldogs, Dunkley and the player’s manager Liam Pickering held “really productive” talks over a new deal earlier this week.

The Dogs’ chief is increasingly confident the 25-year-old will remain at Whitten Oval beyond 2022.

“There’ve been some really productive meetings between Sam [Power] and our list management team with Josh and Liam Pickering earlier in the week,” Bains told SEN’s Whateley.

“We’re probably a lot more confident now with getting a deal done over the coming weeks too.”

SEN’s Sam Edmund reported last week that talks on a new contract have ramped up between Dunkley’s management and the Bulldogs.

The other big-name out-of-contract player the Bulldogs are looking to lock away is Bailey Smith.

Bains said the club is closing in on a new deal for the 21-year-old.

“I think we’ve spoken about Bailey before and not being too far away,” Bains said.

“Part of the delay in finalising that has been waiting for him return to play and let that be his sole focus, which will obviously occur tomorrow night.

“We anticipate that will get tidied up pretty quickly between Sam Power and his manager Paul Connors.”

– BY ALEX ZAIA/SEN