Melbourne trade recruit Zane Duursma has spoken openly about how mentally taxing his past two seasons at North Melbourne have been.
The 21-year-old was a high profile Pick 4 in the 2023 National Draft, but struggled to get going while those in his draft class such as Nick Watson, Harley Reid and Nate Caddy fired.
Duursma featured in 38 games for the Roos, kicking 28 goals playing primarily as a forward. At the end of the 2026 season, he requested a trade to Melbourne.
New North Melbourne coach Jaymie Graham tried to convince the 190cm forward to stay at the club on a phone call while Duursma was in Japan, but the high-leaping talent was determined to sign for the Dees.
Speaking on the SEN's The Run Home with Andy and Gazey, Duursma said the pressure of being a highly touted player that is underperforming had gotten to him mentally across the past 24 months.
"It's mentally taxing. We have fantastic psychologists that we see and I can't speak any higher of the AFLPA for helping me out in that regard. In all honesty, it is hard to manage but we have the right people and resources to manage it," Duursma said on Thursday.
"I definitely know it did (affect me mentally). I know in my second and third year it got to me. Scrolling on Instagram you just see that stuff. And then I myself would click on the old comment section and have a quick read.
"It's something that you are drawn to as a younger guy and see that stuff and see what people are saying.
"As Corey Maynard, the great man, he calls it rat poison so I am doing my best now not to associate myself with that stuff and it has been going a bit better."
The Roos were keen to keep their former Pick 4 after only three seasons at the club. However, Duursma was keen for a fresh start.
Melbourne coach Steven King demonstrated that his positive approach to leading and fast, free-flowing style of football could turn the Demons around from what many predicted would be a bottom-four finish to a Wildcard final.
Duursma explained that what drew him to Melbourne was the fact the club saw his future in football the same way he did.
"The way I see (the player I can become) is I can play that half forward roaming role where I can hit up at the footy and use the ball inside that centre to forward area," he said.
"I did it when I was younger too, just go and pinch hit in the centre bounces every now and then to get my hands on the footy and the Demons sort of agreed with that. I was quite happy with how they responded to that.
"Some of the times playing at the Kangas, you have your role and the ball will come your way and other days it won't. And that's the way we put it and I got really frustrated with that.
"Evidently I got in my own head a little bit about not getting my hands on the footy. The frustrating part was getting in my own head, that is sort of what drove me from doing the things I know I am capable of."
Duursma was traded to Melbourne with Pick 52 for Pick 33 and 49.
