Those who know Taylor Duryea best in the footy world are convinced he’s at the peak of his powers.

The two-time premiership winner is best known for his work as part of arguably the greatest team of the 21^st century, Hawthorn.

Much like the rapper-producer-entrepreneur he’s earned a nickname from, ‘Doc’ Duryea is no one-trick pony.

The original stuff was great, but he’s aged well too.

And on the cusp of his 150^th AFL game, perhaps it’s fitting the man dubbed ‘The Bulldog’ in high school is not only helping build towards – hopefully – something special with the Western Bulldogs, but making a significant contribution to his team’s rapid rise.

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Premiership teams have a bond that lasts a lifetime.

Duryea was part of two of those teams in Hawthorn’s three-peat between 2013 and 2015, firstly as the sub in 2014 and then as one of the Hawks’ leading ball-winners in 2015.

Through that period, part of the celebrations was a photo with the New South Wales crew.

In 2015, that was a quartet of country boys – Isaac Smith, Matt Suckling, Luke Breust and Corowa export Duryea.

“Him being a New South Wales boy, you always have a connection straight away in that sense,” Smith, the three-time premiership Hawk-turned-Cat, told westernbulldogs.com.au this week.

“There was the four of us and Will Langford. You don’t find too many lists, probably other than the two Sydney teams, with that many players from New South Wales.”

The relationship goes a long way back for Breust, also a three-time premiership Hawk.

“We go back to 2002, the New South Wales’ under-12 side,” he said.

“He was more of a lead-up forward back then and could sit on guys’ heads. He had a fair leap, like he still does now. We seemed to cross paths right throughout our junior careers.

“The Riverina area probably pulls us together a little bit, growing up in a similar area. The New South Wales connection is quite strong, we spent plenty of time together growing up.”

Suckling recalls an immediate connection with Doc – funnily enough – sparked by tunes.

“We both loved similar music,” the two-time premiership Hawk and former Bulldog said.

“I think I dubbed him ‘Doc’ Duryea when he first got to the footy club and that’s stuck around to now, he’s still got the nickname Doc so I’m pretty happy with that.

“We bonded over music, being New South Welshmen and being left-footers too, so we had a few bonds early on.

“Our friendship’s really grown over the last 10-15 years into something that’s pretty nice right now.”

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Duryea’s mates weren’t willing to dish too much dirt on him.

Suckling admits he has some – but isn’t willing to divulge it. Breust reckons he’s pretty clean cut, although his golf game could use some work. And Smith is conscious of ‘Doc’ having more material on him than the other way around.

Instead, they speak of a person with the highest values – genuine, loyal and as reliable as they come.

It says enough about Duryea that in a media interview this week, he quickly diverted attention away from his own achievements, and towards former teammate Shaun Burgoyne’s phenomenal 400-game effort which will also be celebrated this week.

“As long as you show a bit of respect and that you’re just a good person, Taylor will relate to you,” Smith said.

“It’s funny, Taylor’s probably as good friends with a lot of the boys as he is with their partners as well, because he’s just so lovely and nice to everyone. He accepts everyone for who they are.”

“He’s that guy you can trust with anything,” Suckling added.

“If you’ve ever got a problem, he’ll give up his time and put all his effort into helping you out which is a great quality to have in a good friend.”

Duryea is a man of many different skills and qualities.

He’d built a reputation as the ideas man at the Hawks, managed the part-time modelling career of his French bulldog Duke and put his barbering skills to the test in last year’s hub.

Breust reckons he’s come a long way from the old school look he used to roll with.

“Back in the days we both had pretty wild hair… more a helmet than a haircut, I guess,” he said

“Now you look at him and he’s always dressed very well and likes looking pretty schmick.”

Smith laughs that while he’s retained his country roots, he quickly adjusted to calling Melbourne home.

“My first impressions… he really liked his fashion, he very much suited himself to the Melbourne way of life after growing up in the country. I guess the influence of Caulfield Grammar probably rubbed off on him a little bit… in the nicest possible way,” he said.

“He’s very much a coffee connoisseur and loves fine dining and finding beautiful restaurants and cafes to eat at. In that sense, he’s your typical Melburnian.”

It’s this side of Duryea that Suckling has plenty of fond memories with.

“We’ve been on three or four trips overseas together, letting our hair down and enjoying the other side of life,” he said.

“Dinners and cafes, plenty of nice food and a few drinks here and there have always been great with Doc.”

But when he means business, he means business.

“As soon as he gets on the football field he snaps into the Corowa way of life,” Smith said.

“He’s as courageous, brave and ferocious as I’ve played with.”

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It took Duryea until early in his fourth year at Hawthorn – 2013 – to get a crack at AFL level.

He spent time forward and back, but ultimately found his home in defence in the top-flight competition.

Duryea’s reputation in the eyes of Breust is built around a team-first mentality no matter the cost.

“On-field, you can’t question his desire and discipline to play a role for his side. That’s what everyone loves about playing with Doc, you know exactly what you’re going to get week-in, week-out,” he said.

“There’s no ifs, buts or maybes with him.

“You can’t question his ability to put his body on the line. He’s one of the hardest, most courageous guys I reckon I’ve played with.”

Suckling recalls his leadership being a strength, from the moment they first met.

“He’s a natural born leader,” he said.

“Ever since he walked into the footy club at Hawthorn when I first met him, he was calling shots in Kokoda as we were trekking that… he only would have been at the footy club for a couple of months but he was directing and showing great leadership qualities.

“I think that’s carried on now. With that experience he has now, it’s making him into a really complete player.”

“What was probably underrated early in his career was his skill and ability,” Smith added.

“I think the Dogs are seeing that now. I’m pretty sure he’s one of the most effective kicks in the competition at the moment.

“You combine that with his bravery and his footy nous and it’s making him a pretty potent footballer, especially this year.”

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Suckling had already been at the Kennel for three years, before the Bulldogs set their sights on Duryea at the end of 2018.

“I was doing some hard work in the background… I had some great times with him at the Hawks and it’s always great to play footy with your closest friends,” he said.

But Duryea couldn’t escape injury in his first two years as a Bulldog. He managed just 17 of a possible 41 matches.

He’s had a clean run in 2021 and is playing arguably the best football of his 12-year career in the top flight.

“I’ve seen the hard work he’s put in not only throughout his career, but especially when his body hasn’t allowed him to be out on the field,” Suckling said.

“He’s someone that’s always done every rep of every exercise he had to do, and been really determined to get his body back to where it is now.”

His coach, Luke Beveridge, says he’s found another level.

“I think he’s playing the best footy he has,” Beveridge said.

“He’s played some really impactful footy and he plays a very brutal style of game. His collision game is second to none. He’s got an extraordinary skill-set and his athleticism is quite brilliant.”

Breust is looking forward to the prospect of lining up against his great mate in a couple of weeks’ time.

“It’s probably one of the most consistent years I’ve seen him have across his career,” he said.

“The footy he’s playing at the moment is pretty amazing. I’m loving sitting back and watching him go about his business patrolling that back line.

“There’ll be plenty of banter I think. It’ll be a good test to see who comes away with bragging rights.”

Smith had that experience a fortnight ago. He knew it was Duryea closing in on Gary Rohan in the dying seconds and knew that kick had to be perfect.

“Once I kicked it, I saw it was Taylor and I thought ‘the little bugger, he’s going to hit Gary as hard as he can so hopefully the ball gets there before he gets there’.

“He’s pretty good at the old ball-and-body spoil, as Clarko liked to refer to it. He was brilliant that night.”

Duryea has brought an added edge to the Bulldogs this year – and Beveridge hopes there’s plenty more of that to come.

“He’s a leader. He’s very vocal and his experience and seniority has really helped us here,” Beveridge said.

“We hope he can keep going. He’s still a pretty young man and his body’s in really good order, so hopefully he’s got another 50-or-so in him – maybe a few more.”