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In the fifth episode of Toe to Toe with Damo, Essendon's star defender Michael Hurley speaks to AFL.com.au's chief football reporter Damian Barrett

EVEN in a season in which he managed 19 of Essendon's 23 matches, Michael Hurley got banged up badly.

North Melbourne's wrecking ball Cam Zurhaar crunched into his shoulder in round 17 at Marvel Stadium in an incident requiring surgery and in the final round at the MCG, a pack contest against Collingwood damaged his other shoulder, which required post-season reconstruction.

>> WATCH THE FULL MICHAEL HURLEY INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER BELOW

Hurley, 29, missed only four matches after the Zurhaar hit, and courageously played in the Bombers' losing elimination final against West Coast in Perth, a week after the round 23 damage.

"I've had a bit of bad luck at times," Hurley told AFL.com.au. "Zurhaar got me flush, that was a good hit, dislocated my AC, then against Collingwood I went one way and the pack went the other way and I dislocated the other shoulder."

The 2019 finals loss was Hurley's fifth personal consecutive September defeat, following elimination final losses in 2017, 2014, 2011 and 2009. It was Essendon's sixth finals loss in a row, its last finals win back in 2004.

Hurley's first finals appearance was the 10th match of his debut AFL season, against Adelaide at Football Park. The Crows won by 96 points. Hurley played in the forward line against Ben Rutten, who will take over from John Worsfold as Bombers coach from next season.

>> WATCH THE FULL PHIL DAVIS INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER BELOW

"You often get told at the start of your career to enjoy and embrace it because it does go fast, but at 19 or 20 you don't really listen to guys saying that, though, and now I'm in the other chair, telling others that it does go fast," Hurley said.

"(In the first final), I was playing against my current coach at the moment, and that just says how long ago it was.

"I actually played on him, I played forward and I don’t think I got near the ball much. We got a touch up. He was intimidating, had a big deep voice, a big fat backside, big a.se.

"He's a good guy, he develops relationships, he and Woosh (John Worsfold) are going well. 

"We all have duty of care coaches, I am under Truck (Rutten) in that department, John and Truck are working really closely together, the dynamic is very good. 

"John is letting Truck teach the game plan game, letting it develop, and the lines of communication have been very clear."

In the interview, Hurley, who enters the 2020 season on 179 matches, also said ...

• He would forever resist offers from rival clubs;
• It was an "honour" to be voted back into the Bombers' leadership group by his teammates;
• His All-Australian season in 2015 was his personal best, surpassing 2017, where he also achieved All-Australian acclaim.