The skilful half-back was omitted for round 11 and missed three games while he went back to the WAFL to find touch with South Fremantle.
Duffield said an honest conversation with senior coach Ross Lyon identified where he needed to improve.
“Ross is really good at holding all the players to account and making sure we’re consistently giving great effort,” he said.
“He felt I wasn’t doing that, which was understandable. There were a few things I had to work on.”
Duffield was tasked with re-focussing on doing the basics and doing them 100 per cent of the time.
“AFL players have expectations of what they must deliver on game day, and my effort wasn’t good enough,” he said.
“Consistent effort was the basis of it all.”
The 27-year-old has been back in the Freo team for the past three games and is confident he’s headed in the right direction now.
“I had to go back and get things right, which I felt I did,” Duffield said.
“It’s great to be back in and involved with the team and I’m looking forward to the remainder of the season.”
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