Jayden Hunt knows a thing or two about persevering through a rebuild.

Drafted by Melbourne at the end of 2013, the lightly-framed teenage dasher arrived at a club that hadn’t played finals for seven years and wouldn’t see September action for another five.

There were hard yards still to be travelled and players who needed time to find their feet.

Hunt himself needed time to grow and didn’t make his senior debut until round four of his third season – about when that playing group was starting to turn the corner after significant draft investment.

In the tough AFL landscape, there are no shortcuts to climbing back up the ladder as West Coast’s current group, who hit rock bottom in 2023 following an incredibly tough season prior, are aware.

Three wins in his first season out west and a handful of triple-figure beltings wasn’t exactly what Hunt had in mind when he made the decision to cross the Nullarbor as an unrestricted free agent at the end of last year.

But the Eagles have followed their previous recipe for success and hit the draft hard for the past three years, and Hunt believes the resilience West Coast’s players have developed will eventually reap dividends.

“Teams build cultures out of adversity rather than just winning all the time and having it really easy,” Hunt said.

“I think that is where team culture really starts, from facing these difficulties together.

“From that, it’s a really tight group – and I’m not just saying that, it really is. All the players came together.

“I’m sure that’s going to really hold the group stronger together for next year and years to come when we start winning more games.”

Despite the team’s disappointing 2023, Hunt certainly held up his end of the bargain.

Recruited to bring his trademark speed to Adam Simpson’s side, he pushed through a tough campaign and fronted up in all 23 games.

The highs were impressive, including a rollicking two-goal, 22-disposal effort in his second appearance in blue and gold as the Eagles steamrolled eventual preliminary finalist Greater Western Sydney.

He was also arguably West Coast’s best with a career-high 34 disposals in round 11 against Essendon in a 50-point defeat.

Hunt’s consistency and willingness to take the game on across a campaign when injuries and illness cruelled West Coast’s ambitions stood out – along with his leadership - and he earned a fourth-placed finish in the John Worsfold Medal count.

“I was pretty happy with my season. I just focused on bringing my strengths, which is what the club recruited me for, so I just kept running and providing that offensive run as well as my defensive craft,” Hunt said.

“I definitely think it was a good first base for the new club and I think with more time with the other guys, and hopefully the injured guys playing some consistent footy next year, I think I can grow with them as well, so I’m looking forward to it.

“Coming over I knew it was an improving list and we were going to be rebuilding but obviously pretty disappointed with how it all ended up.

“A lot of things didn’t go our way, which made it very difficult.

“The good thing about this year is being able to blood so many games into the young guys and, especially towards the end of the season, they showed some things that they are going to be able to grow from and hopefully be really special players for us.

“From that sense I really enjoyed taking that leadership role and mentoring the younger guys.

“Hopefully with a bit better form from those last few games from the team we can build that into 2024.

“I think everyone is a bit fed up with losing.

“There’s a lot of doubters at the moment because of the last couple of years but everyone has got that chip on their shoulder and wants to prove everyone wrong.”