After being elevated from the rookie list in 2006, he was given opportunities in fits and spurts, but didn’t manage to cement his place in the team until the end of 2008.
He played the final six games last season and has emerged in 2009 as one of Fremantle's best performers, attacking off half-back.
The 24-year-old says he is enjoying his football and puts his turnaround down to a big pre-season, some self-assessment and a helping hand off the field.
"I worked pretty hard with a sports psyche to cover the mental side of the game, but I really put it down to a really hard pre-season," Duffield said on Tuesday from Fremantle Oval.
"It does make it hard going up and down and it's something that I sort of set myself this year to try and change.
"But it really comes down to the individual, what you're willing to do about that situation and to do something about it."
Duffield has averaged more than 24 possessions a game this season, but was dropped in round three for ducking his head in a marking contest.
He said he took coach Mark Harvey's decision on the chin and tried to do something about it when he returned to WAFL side South Fremantle, gathering 35 possessions and kicking two goals to earn an instant recall.
"I just accepted that that was the decision and knew that the only way to respond is to go back and play really well," Duffield said.
"It's a battle of what you can control and that's what I thought I could control so that's what I tried to do.
"I went and spoke to Harves about it and I understood the consequences of the actions. With the young group we had to make a stand and say what was acceptable and what wasn't."
Duffield says with more enjoyment of football, his confidence has soared and he's comfortable with his role in the team.
He took pride in young teammate Greg Broughton's defensive effort on Geelong star Steve Johnson on the weekend and says leadership is something that he wants to take on.
"Absolutely, I think with a few of the younger players that we've got coming through there at the moment and a little bit of obviously where we're at with our side, [that] leadership [is] very important.
"There's a lot of fresh faces out there, that's for sure. I'm just really enjoying that little bit of leadership and responsibility.
"It's made me really feel part of the side."
