Liam Duggan Biography

Liam Duggan is preparing to play a midfield role for West Coast early in 2021, to cover for the injured Elliot Yeo.

"We pushed him up there just in case, and we drafted him as a midfielder. He's been training with the mids for the last two weeks and has definitely impressed a lot of people. He's ready to step up," West Coast coach Adam Simpson said.

Liam Duggan could be racing to return for the start of finals after suffering a nasty ankle sprain in the Eagles' win over Fremantle.

"Our guys have indicated it’s a high ankle sprain, the old syndesmosis injury," football manager Craig Vozzo said of Duggan's injury.

"It’s looking like he’ll be a five or six week ‘off legs’ (period) and then building to training (and then) to play. So, unfortunately, it’s an extended period out."

Liam Duggan signs a new three-year deal with West Coast to remain at the club until the end of 2021.

"Since we do have such a young group, it's good for my development, my leadership and my footy in helping those young boys getting along and getting up to speed," Duggan said.

"Hopefully I'll play a bit more time in the midfield this year and pinch hit down back. But wherever I play it’s about playing my role and doing the best that I can."

Liam Duggan says he hopes to consolidate himself in the Eagles' midfield in 2017.

"My fitness base will be my main focus for the summer, so really building my tank so I can run out games a lot more efficiently during the season," Duggan said.

"I set high expectations for myself and hopefully this pre-season I give myself every chance to reach them.

"I love the midfield, I love getting through the guts, and I think that's where I'm going to play my best footy and give the most I can to the team."

Liam Duggan says he will never compare himself to his fellow 2014 draftees but he has been keeping an eye on them across the competition.

"I think there is probably a little bit of healthy competition, hopefully in five or six years time some of those boys are fighting for (being) the best in the comp," Duggan said.

"If I can head up that way as well that would be nice but I won't be putting any pressure on myself."

Liam Duggan signs a two-year contract extension following a promising first season at the Eagles.

"I couldn’t have asked for more in my first year, getting a look at a Grand Final,” Duggan said.

"The only way it could have been better would have been to win the Grand Final and that has to be our aim. I really want to be a part of it."

Liam Duggan will miss the rest of the year after injuring the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the WAFL on the weekend.

Duggan suffered a knock to the knee in a marking contest during the first term of East Perth's win over Perth.

Scans have confirmed damage to the PCL and Eagles' general manager of football Craig Vozzo said that the Eagles are likely to rest Duggan for the remainder of the season rather than push him to return for a potential finals campaign.

"It's very disappointing for Liam and the football club," Vozzo said.

"He's had a terrific first year to date. Liam is going to be a pretty important part of our football club moving forward, so we're not keen to take too much risk with it, which probably means his season is over."

Liam Duggan says starting in the WAFL and then playing his first three AFL games as the substitute has really helped him adjust to the pace of the AFL.

"I think the first few games at WAFL level and even playing as a sub for my first three games has really helped me sort of get a taste for what it was like, especially for a full game at AFL level," Duggan said.

"The process that we took to get me to the AFL has been really good. I enjoyed playing at East Perth and obviously will enjoy playing there if I'm going back. But I think it was a nice process and lead-up and I got a good taste for it at each level."

Liam Duggan makes his AFL debut for West Coast with 5 disposals (3 kicks and 2 handballs) and 3 marks in a 69-point win over Carlton.

Liam Duggan is selected to make his AFL debut in the Eagles' round 2 clash against Carlton at Patersons Stadium.

"He's been pretty consistent at WAFL level for an 18-year-old, and he got tagged on the weekend. We think there's an opportunity for him to play, and we'll see how he goes," West Coast coach Adam Simpson.

"There's a bit of a class about him. Obviously there's some years to come and development to go through, but he's playing like a man at the moment."

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says draftees Liam Duggan, Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson could all make their AFL debuts in the first month of the season.

"We haven't made a decision (about round one), but they'll play senior football at some stage," Simpson said.

"Whether it's round one, that's not the be all and end all. But the fact is that both of those kids (Lamb and Nelson) have played every game of the pre-season.

"Liam Duggan performed well at East Perth on the weekend. So we can see at least three potential first-gamers in the next month or so, safe to say."

West Coast select Liam Duggan with pick No.11 in thee 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

"He's a player we've liked from afar for a long time," Eagles recruiting manager Rohan O'Brien said.

"We think he's a terrifically skilled player, he's got a wonderful character, is a good leader and can play in a few roles.

He may start more as a wingman type player and then move through the midfield. We're really thrilled to get him."