In a year when the next injury was never far away, the story of Liam Duggan’s inspirational season bouncing back from a significant knee operation went relatively untold. 

Restricted to the rehab group during pre-season, Duggan was nearing a point where he could start playing minutes again when best-laid plans of a gradual comeback and build had to be adapted to the never-before-seen situation at hand.    

Heading into round two against North Melbourne, an availability crisis gripping West Coast meant any and every fit player was in the mix to pull on the jumper. 

Duggan, who hadn’t played for nine months, was suddenly called up as part of an incredible 14 inclusions – alongside five Covid Contingency List players plus debutants Callum Jamieson and Jack Williams. 

Testament to his professionalism, competitiveness and desire to do his best for the team, the 25-year-old was among the Eagles’ best with 18 disposals and a goal – just the 10th of his career – in a gallant defeat at Marvel Stadium.

That Duggan only missed one more game – the following round’s RAC Derby due to his stint in isolation – and finished the campaign with his second top-five finish in the Club Champion award was a credit to himself and Eagles medical staff. 

“I suppose where I started at the beginning of the season - a little bit earlier than what we would have liked - for the knee to hold on as long as it did and probably as well as it did really, although I didn’t feel great at times, it was pretty pleasing,” Duggan said.

“To be able to get through the season fairly well unscathed and set me up to have a good pre-season and get the full workload too, which is a nice feeling, it was a pretty good effort by the medical team to help me through some of the stages where it was a bit iffy.

“I was training away from the group almost up until I played really; it was so quick in the end. When I did come back into the group it hit me between the eyes what was actually going on with all the injuries. 

“You saw all the boys joining you in the rehab group and the numbers kept multiplying, which is not a great feeling. 

“I don’t think I’ll see anything like it ever again really with what we got dished up within those opening rounds.”

Elevated into the leadership group in February – alongside Tom Barrass and Oscar Allen – Duggan was also challenged to help guide the squad through the most turbulent times of his career. 

“We were thrown in the deep end a little bit and it was great to see how see how some of the older boys handled it,” Duggan said. 

“I look at it now and think the way I tried to lead – and unfortunately for Oscar he wasn’t on the park – but I think ‘TB’ was the same in that the on-field performance and the way you went about it day-to-day and week-to-week was the way to lead, especially being with such a young, inexperienced group for stages of the year. 

“You don’t have to be best on ground but at least doing the right thing and playing your role for the team and trying to do it really well was what I focused on. 

“It certainly was a challenge but I think the spirits were kept fairly high and I think that was a credit to everyone, and the coaches have a lot to do with that as well with the environment they set for us. 

“We were still able to learn and I think some of our boys really flourished and got some experience into them, which was great as well.”

Preparing for his ninth season in the west, Duggan believes 2023 provides a ‘blank page’ for the Eagles to write their own story. 

The premiership defender hasn’t enjoyed the only two seasons of his career missing finals back-to-back and, while he isn’t putting expectations on next year, there is a strong sense of optimism about a brighter future ahead.

“We’ve got some really experienced younger blokes now that I think are ready to go and have played really good roles for us during the year,” Duggan explained. 

“We’ve got some senior players that hopefully all going well are fit and healthy and ready to go as well and all of a sudden there’s a challenge on for spots – that always propels the boys forward. 

“I’m pretty excited to see what we can do with that healthy list.”