IN HIS third year on Hawthorn's list, Taylor Duryea has twice been named an emergency this season, most recently for the team's trip to Launceston last weekend.

He spoke to hawthornfc.com.au.

Q. Is being named an emergency a good sign that you're on the right track?

A. It's rewarding in a sense, because you know you're thereabouts. And especially if it's an interstate game, you get to experience travelling away and the routine and everything like that.

Do you feel you're a chance of getting a senior game this year?

I'm not sure. There are only three games to go in the home and away season, and the team that's been in there for 20 rounds has done the job and played well. I won't be too perturbed if I don't get a game, because I'm playing in positions where Matt Suckling, Grant Birchall and Brent Guerra are playing, and they're really good players in really good form. So I haven't been too worried about it, as long as I'm playing consistently.

If you were to get a tap on the shoulder, do you feel you'd be ready to go?

Yeah, more than ready. It's been three years, and I feel like I've learned enough now and I've played consistent enough football at VFL level that I would be able to come in and make an impact, whether that's big or small.

What have you worked on this year?

It's been about continuity in terms of injury and week-to-week performance. I had an ankle reconstruction last year, which all went pretty well except for a few complications towards the end of pre-season. So that was the first hurdle, and I was able to overcome that, and I haven't missed a game since. In previous years I've missed a series of games just through lack of conditioning, and my body hasn't held up. And then it's just being able to build on last year's form in terms of the half-back role, which I feel I have.

That's been a role change, hasn't it? Didn't you start as a small forward at the Hawks?

I never really played small forward in isolation during junior footy, but when I came to Hawthorn they saw me as that. But I lost a bit of confidence in that role, and halfway through last year I got an opportunity to play down back and felt really comfortable there, and started to play some good footy. It's definitely a position I feel I can better serve the team at, so I've been happy to make the move.

What happened to your ankle?

I did it in our pre-season camp in New Zealand. We were hiking and I jumped over a shrub, landed on a rock and went over. I managed it through the pre-season and then throughout the year it progressively got worse, to a point where with six weeks to go I re-injured it, and scans confirmed it needed something done to it. I thought it would be better for my 2012 year if I got it done straight away, so I did.

In terms of the half-back role, who are you learning from?

I'm the most similar to Brent Guerra in the way he plays. He plays a bit deeper and on the smaller, quicker forwards, which I've been doing at Box Hill. He's an elite kick, and that's something that I've tried to get into my game and make a real strength of mine. Also his presence, the way he attacks the ball and the contests he creates down there are pretty awesome. And now he's taking more of a coaching role, in a sense, for the backline in meetings, and he's really driving that, so he's someone I definitely look up to.

I'm told you were nicknamed 'The Bulldog' at school. Has that carried on at Hawthorn?

I don't know how that came about at school, but you just take what you're given. But I haven't got it here. Initially when I got to the club I didn't have much care for my hair, and it looked like a bit of a helmet, so I got 'Helmet Head' and 'Bucket' and the like. But I'm now 'Doc', as in Dr Dre, the rapper, because my last name's similar. I don't mind that.

You grew up on the Murray and went down to Caulfield Grammar in year 10. Is it true that Jack Ziebell's dad is the one who suggested to Caulfield that they bring you down?

I didn't learn that until after the fact. Jack was already organised to go down, and I was playing a V-Line Cup practice match with the Ovens and Murray side, which is basically the Murray Bushrangers under-15s. I must have played all right, and he (Ziebell's dad) suggested to the director of football at Caulfield to have a look at me.

Is it a move you're glad you made?

It was a move I'd never thought of until I was approached, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I definitely don't regret it. Even though it was difficult to leave home at 15, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. It was a life-changing experience.

Did playing school footy rather than full seasons of TAC Cup set you back when you first got to the AFL?

I'm not sure, really. I'd start the season with the Bushrangers and finish the season with the Bushrangers, so I got enough exposure at TAC Cup level. For me, I played senior football when I was younger, so that probably helped me out more so. As much as the TAC Cup is pretty elite for junior football, the physicality of senior football can't be replicated at junior level.

Are you confident about Box Hill's chances in the finals?

Definitely. We lost to Port Melbourne on the weekend, but that was only by three points and there were some positives to come out of the game. Each week we're making small steps. We've refined the way we play and we're really confident in the way we go about it now. With Hawthorn's senior side going so well, it means the list is strong. So that helps at VFL level.

Let's finish with a few quick ones.

Who did you barrack for as a kid, and who was your favourite player?

I went for St Kilda, and from the Saints it would have been Robert Harvey, but my favourite player was Nathan Buckley for most of my childhood. I loved how effective his kick was. He was very skilful.

Who are you living with?

I live with Sam Grimley, Ben Stratton and Brendan Whitecross. I've lived in this house for over a year. Sam's been there for three years, and there's been a few different guys roll through. But the dynamic's pretty good.

Did you play any other sports?

At Caulfield Grammar I did rowing and volleyball as my summer sports, and I got a lot out of those two. Growing up it was just cricket and tennis through the off-season, and footy in winter.

And do you follow other sports now?

I'm pretty big on NFL and the NBA. I like the American sports. I like the athleticism involved and they're pretty exciting sports to watch. I also love soccer. I'm looking forward to the start of the English Premier League season.

Who are your teams?

I'm not on the bandwagon - I've liked them for a long time - but I go for the Miami Heat. In the NFL it's the Detroit Lions, and in the EPL it's Arsenal, but I've got a soft spot for West Bromwich Albion.

What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't playing footy?

I'm studying commerce at the moment at Swinburne. I've done it so far as a general business course, and if I find something interesting I'll head down that path. Maybe an entrepreneur. That wouldn’t be too bad.

Do you have any pre-game superstitions?

No, none at all. I think if you've got a superstition, it leaves you in a bad spot when it doesn't go right for you.

What do you get up to on your days off?

Generally it's going to uni, and I play a bit of golf.

Favourite music?

I love rap and R'n'B.

TV shows?

At the moment, two American shows, Breaking Bad and Suits. We stream them online each week and watch them as they come out in America.

Movies?

I like comedy. Generally anything Will Ferrell is in is pretty good.

And favourite meal?

I like it pretty simple. If I can go to a restaurant and get a good pasta or something like that, that usually does it for me. And I love Japanese food.

Do you get home to Corowa very often?

I haven't been able to during the season, but I try to get back during the summer. It's pretty good there. The river is up, and I like to get out on the water. I used to water ski when I was allowed to, but usually now it's just getting out for a fish.

And last one: do you think Hawthorn can win the flag?

I think our best is good enough to do it. It's just a matter of performing on the day. That's what finals are about - being able to perform when it counts. I think we've got the players and the game to do it, so there's no reason why not.