EAGLES ON A HIGH
GRAND FINAL FALLOUT
COLD beer in hand, Liam Duggan is all smiles in the West Coast rooms as he poses for a host of photos with family and his girlfriend Lauren.
The boy from Bacchus Marsh still can’t quite believe what has just happened, a premiership win the ultimate high in a whirlwind four years that has had it all.
The Eagles’ first pick at No.11 in the 2014 national draft, Duggan crossed to the other side of the country in a move that wasn’t without its challenges.
He burst on to the scene in 2015, playing in 12 consecutive matches after a Round 2 debut, before his season was derailed by a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.
That meant he missed West Coast’s 2015 September campaign, which ended in grand final defeat to Hawthorn, but with a premiership medal around his neck that is all but a distant memory.
“It’s been a big few years, moving away from home over to West Coast. It’s been unreal to be able to share this moment with the boys who I’ve grown so close with,” Duggan said.
“Early on it (the move) was hard, no doubt. But it’s been made easier by the club and my family have been really supportive from back home. When you’re wearing a medal around your neck and sharing it with these boys, it’s all worth it.
“I think I was able to play my role so I was happy with my performance but it wouldn’t really matter today, I’m just happy with this medal.”
Duggan was coached at Bacchus Marsh in 2011 by Footscray legend Doug Hawkins, who never achieved premiership success in his 329 VFL/AFL games.
In comparison, Duggan took just 71 AFL games to reach the pinnacle.
He also spent time in underage football alongside now Eagles teammate Daniel Venables at TAC Cup club Western Jets, the pair getting to each other pretty quickly after Saturday’s final siren.
“We often joke about it, that we’re the Jettas. To hold the cup up with him is pretty special,” Duggan said.
Duggan – who finished the grand final with 16 disposals and seven marks – dreams of one day pushing into the midfield.
But for now he could not be happier doing his thing in the backline.
“It’s probably where I’ll play for the next couple of years,” Duggan said.
“I’m not too sure long-term where it will be but down back’s probably home for now.”