Max Duffy didn’t have to say he was overwhelmed at being selected for his AFL debut to convey the emotion.

The 21-year-old’s deep breaths and the tear that was welling in his eye gave that away.

Drafted with pick 39 in the 2012 National Draft, Duffy had every right to feel relieved. His journey to his first AFL game has been littered with obstacles.

“I had four hamstring injuries in my first year and a few other little things that didn’t quite go right,” he said.

“And then this year I popped my shoulder out in round one of the WAFL and have come back and played four games of WAFL now.

“I’m a little bit overwhelmed, it’s been a long time.

“I’ve been on the list almost two years now and missed out in the draft early, so it’s been a long build but I have finally got there so I am stoked.”

Duffy found out on Thursday he’d be playing when he was called into an office with Ross Lyon, Chris Bond and Simon Lloyd.

The first person he called was his father, John. 

“He’s helped me through my whole life and been a big part of my footy career, so I called him,” Duffy said.

“He was pretty happy, he doesn’t give much but I think he was pretty happy.”

Duffy was not able to let his mother Jiulie know, and it’s likely she won’t find out for a while.

“I couldn’t call my mum, she is in Africa climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, so I’m not sure if she is half way up by now but hopefully she will be able to get the message somehow and find out,” he said.

“Otherwise I suppose I’ll just tell her when she gets back.”

Duffy has been around his senior coach Lyon long enough to know what’s expected of him on Saturday in Geelong.

“Just to play my role and bring effort and do my best,” he said.

“They always talk about effort and at the end of the day that’s all I can do.”

Duffy attended Kent Street High and played his junior football for Rossmoyne.

He was a state under 18 representative and played for Perth in the WAFL before transferring to East Fremantle.

Duffy played a number of pre-season games for Freo in 2014 before the shoulder injury halted his momentum.