The West Coast Eagles midfield could be a force to be reckoned with in the very near future, as Zero Hanger's projected Pick 1 of the 2025 National Draft, Willem Duursma, looks set to land in Perth in just over a month's time.
The Gippsland Power prospect looks to be a perfect proposition for the rebuilding Eagles, instantly bolstering their midfield stocks with his defensively oriented game style that thrives thanks to his mobility and aerial ability as a taller midfielder.
Duursma sees it that way too, highlighting the AFL's elite talents he compares his game to on SEN Breakfast on Friday.
Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli is a player Duursma particularly keys in on when watching film in preparation for his AFL selection, noting the seven-time All-Australian's defensive efforts that Duursma has also established as a strength of his own in his draft year.
"At my best, I'm your taller midfielder, a Bontempelli-type. Got a bit of polish and outside run as well. I do love running both ways, [I play] defensively pretty well," Duursma said.
"I take a lot of stuff out of Bontempelli's game and always try to watch Bulldogs games purely for 'Bont'. His running patterns and pressure acts are really good, which is something I've been trying to improve on all year."
Duursma also spotlighted Hawthorn gun Will Day as a player having comparable physical tools to himself, referencing Day's agility in and around the contest as something he hopes to bring to his AFL club.
"I also take a lot out of Will Day's game. He's not exactly the biggest bloke out there, like myself, but his footwork and sidestep is something I try do as well," Duursma said.
"I think I've got a pretty good sidestep, which is based off [Will Day's]."
As draft day nears, the hype surrounding the youngest Duursma sibling is mounting, but it has hardly bothered the 18-year-old. He's keen to make an immediate impact for whichever club selects him, should West Coast surprisingly opt to pass on him twice with Picks 1 and 2 in November.
"It would obviously be nice [to be drafted first overall] but at the end of the day, I'm keen to go to whatever club I go to and get to work as hard as I can, and as soon as I can," Duursma said.
"I really care more about being at the club and making an impact straight away, which is one of my goals for next year.
"Since I'm a country boy living two and a half hours away from the city already, I'm going to have to move regardless.
"Football takes you places, so I'm happy to go wherever. Wherever I am, the club will do a good job looking after me [when I move], so it'll sort itself out."
Duursma is close to finishing his high school studies, but said that he has felt the support from those close to him in what has been an 'overwhelming' period for the star prospect.
"There's certainly been times where I feel really overwhelmed, but I have close friends and family supporting me all the way through," Duursma said on Friday.
"My teachers have been a really good help for me all year, trying to get me through. The support is unreal. I'm pretty happy with the way I've got through so far."
The 2025 National Draft will be held from November 19-20.
