Liam Duggan’s life changed forever on AFL draft night last year.
The Bacchus Marsh junior found out he would be moving more than 3000 kilometres away to Perth after being selected by the West Coast Eagles at pick 11 in the National Draft.
After working for years to break into the AFL, Duggan knew his real football journey was only just beginning.
The teenager went to his new surroundings intently focused on making sure he put his best foot forward.
His attitude and effort wasn’t lost on his new coaches, who were instantly impressed with what they saw.
Under the bright lights at Domain Stadium, Duggan made his AFL debut on a Friday night smashing of Carlton in round two.
“The feeling was probably better than being drafted. It felt like it was all worth it,” Duggan said.
“You work so hard to try and get drafted and to get a game. You have moved out of home and playing at the top level, it really helped me settle in as well.
“It is something I will never forget.”
Duggan has given Eagles fans every indication that they have got themselves a special talent throughout his first season.
After starting as the substitute in his first three matches, the 18-year-old exploded with 25 disposals against Brisbane in his first full game.
A 23-possession effort against St Kilda three weeks later had Eagles fans campaigning for the midfielder to get a rising star nomination.
“Once you’re in the senior side you don’t want to just hang around for a couple of games and then be back out of there again,” Duggan said.
“I was happy and a little bit surprised that I was able to stay in there and then contribute.
“I think it is important to be able to contribute. The boys start to back you in a little bit more.”
Duggan has had the ideal mentor since arriving at the Eagles, working side by side with premiership player Adam Selwood.
Selwood played 187 games for the Eagles across his career before joining the club’s development coaching staff.
“We sit down and talk about goals that we want to achieve,” Duggan said.
“The trap you can fall into is that you can get a bit complacent because you think you have made it at the top level and you can sort of go through the motions.
“Adam makes it pretty important that I keep trying to improve and better myself.”
While Duggan always had impeccable timing throughout his time as a junior with the Western Jets, he has maintained the habit since arriving at the Eagles.
He has joined the club at the best possible time with West Coast looking every bit like a premiership contender, sitting in second spot on the ladder, having lost just three games for the year.
“We are enjoying our form at the moment, that’s for sure,” he said before Saturday afternoon’s win against Collingwood.
“We won 11 games last year and missed out on finals. We just really wanted to improve on last year’s results.
“We have got to that 11 wins but our work ethic certainly isn’t going to stop and we aren’t going to be happy with just 11 wins.”
Regardless of what happens on the field for the rest of his year, Duggan is laying the foundations for a brilliant career out west.
Any initial nerves about moving to the other side of the country are gone.
“It was a bit daunting right at the start. Your future was really decided for you in a split second,” he said.
“The club has been really good and they still are in terms of making sure that we are settled in over here. I’ve been here for about seven or eight months now and I am really enjoying it.
“I love being here and I love the club.”
