The stats

AFL games: 23

Disposals per game: 16.8

Marks: 5.5

Kicks: 11.6

Tackles: 1.9

Goals: 2

Review

With Matt Suckling departing the club at the end of last season, 2016 was a chance for Taylor Duryea to step in and fill the void.

He did so superbly – playing nearly every game for the year and becoming a permanent fixture in Hawthorn’s defence following the abolishment of the substitute rule.

Duryea’s hardness and aggression in the contest was a highlight and he was often used transition the ball from defence to attack with his neat kicking skills.

A 22-possession game against Collingwood in Round 23 which included eight marks, four rebound 50s and three inside 50s was a highlight in what was a consistent year for the small defender.

While many may not have thought the former pick number 69 would be a regular fixture at AFL level, he has developed into an extremely reliable player who the Hawks can count on week in, week out long into the future.

A word from: Adem Yze

“Taylor had a reasonably consistent year and finished with 23 games for the season.

“We tried a few different things with him – he played some shut down roles on really dangerous small forwards, so it was good to see he could do that as well as his rebound off half back which is important for us.

“That rebound is something we really need from him and only missing one game is going to hold him in really good stead going forward.

“Doc is one of the players we need to step up next year and go to another level to continue to help guys like Grant Birchall down back.”