Australian Football

Originally from South Gippsland, Andrew Dunkley played under 19s and reserves football at St KIlda, the club he supported growing up, but he was not considered good enough to make it at senior level (perhaps in part because of his awkward kicking style for which he became renowned in later years). From 1989 it 1991, Dunkley played with North Launceston where his defensive skills came under the notice of Sydney and he was taken at pick 56 by the Swans in the 1991 national draft.

Initially reluctant to move to the harbour city, Dunkley eventually made his AFL debut at 23 years of age in round four of the 1992 season and immediately established himself as a key member of the Swans' back six, with his innate ability to arrive at just the right moment to spoil a mark a feature of his game.

Dunkley was part of Sydney's 1996 Grand Final team but very nearly did not play. He had been charged with striking Essendon's James Hird in the previous week's Preliminary Final and was to face the tribunal, but the Swans took out an injunction so that the hearing was delayed. Dunkley played in the premiership-decider, but had limited effect as the Sydney went down to North Melbourne by 43 points. He continued to give fine service to the Swans until the end of 2002, with 217 games to his credit.

Dunkley's three children have all made a mark in sports, daughter Lara a netball star with the Melbourne Vixens, while sons Josh and Kyle and making their way in the AFL. Josh has already won a premiership with the Western Bulldogs, while Kyle made his debut with Melbourne in 2019.

Author - Andrew Gigacz