Brisbane's "top liner" David King believes is the key to taking down the Cats

SEN's David King has placed Brisbane's Josh Dunkley under the microscope ahead of the Lions' Preliminary Finals contest with Geelong.

Dunkley has played a vital role in Brisbane's success thus far, holding down a midfield role that has seen him average over 25 disposals and five clearances in 2024.

Beyond statistics, the former premiership player has typically been deployed to take on the opposition's strongest midfielder, frequently finding success in shutting down the influence of some of the games' most dangerous inside bulls.

With that being said, King believes that the key to Brisbane getting the job done over the Cats may lie in Dunkley taking on, and succeeding in slowing Geelong veteran Patrick Dangerfield.

“I am putting Josh Dunkley (under the microscope),” King told SEN Breakfast.

“Premiership player of 2016 in his first year, in game 17 for the Dogs, he’s been there, he’s done it.

“He is a top liner, and he has been a model of consistency all year.

“His last four weeks have been pretty strong, 14, 14, seven and 11 contested footy, tick.

“Score involvements, so-so, five, six, seven and five (over the last four games).

“He will step into the middle this week against Patrick Dangerfield, who is fresh and ready to rip another final to shreds.”

This comes after Dangerfield has hit season-best form over recent weeks, averaging 22 disposals and over seven clearances a game across his last five games.

“Just having a look at what has happened over the last three years with Patty,” King continued.

“He has basically played the last 10 games of each of the last three years.

“Last year’s Prelim against Brisbane, 28 disposals, 16 contested, eight clearances and eight score involvements.

“If (Brisbane) want to win this game, I think it is up to a player like Dunkley to take responsibility for Patrick Dangerfield.

“If they don’t, it’s not disastrous, it doesn’t mean that Brisbane can’t win or anything like that, but someone has got to take responsibility for Patty.

“He has had 38 clearances in the last five weeks. The last time he played he had 24 touches, 12 of them became scores.

“He is in rare air right now, I just feel like someone needs to say, ‘he’s mine’.

“Tom Green got off the chain early last week, don’t let Dangerfield get off the chain this week.”

A big task ahead for the Lions as they take on Dangerfield’s Cats in a do-or-die clash at the MCG on Saturday.