New Western Bulldogs recruit Adam Treloar is “pumped” fellow gun midfielder Josh Dunkley is staying put at the Whitten Oval.

The Bulldogs will have one of the AFL’s most explosive onball brigades next year following Treloar’s move from Collingwood and the collapse of Dunkley’s trade request to Essendon.

Controversially pushed out by the Magpies with five years to go on his contract, Treloar immediately “felt the love” after talking with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.

The 27-year-old is excited about forming a midfield combination that will rival anything in the AFL.

“I have a lot of admiration and respect for the Bulldogs,” Treloar told reporters on Friday.

“I’m pumped that Dunks is staying. Watching him play, I regard him very highly and I think that dynamic that we have inside is something that is going to be exciting.”

Treloar fronted the cameras less than 24 hours after his whirlwind trade to his third AFL club was finalised.

He was joined at the media conference by partner Kim Ravaillion, who has signed a Super Netball contract to play with the Queensland Firebirds next year.

“The love and empathy he (Beveridge) was showing Kim and I was something that I was drawn to,” Treloar said.

“When he was chatting more about Kim (and her netball career) and less about me it was something I genuinely felt was care and love, so that’s sort of what pushed me over.”

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs remain confident in Dunkley returning to the influential inside midfield role that was at the centre of his failed trade request to the Bombers.

After finishing runner-up in the Bulldogs’ 2019 best-and-fairest, Dunkley struggled with injuries this year and never returned to his best.

He was also played out of position as a back-up ruckman to try and nurture young tall Tim English.

But with the Bulldogs securing veteran Brisbane Lions ruckman Stefan Martin to support English, Dunkley is set to reap the rewards.

“Josh’s main reason to us (in requesting a trade) was around the midfield opportunities,” Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said.

“He had a fantastic 2019 and played some really good football this year.

“He did have a significant injury this year and he came back from it relatively quickly, which is a credit to Josh’s professionalism.”