Willem Duursma has been selected as the No.1 pick in the AFL draft by West Coast, earning bragging rights over his three older siblings. The 18-year-old utility joins brothers Xavier (Essendon) and Zane (North Melbourne) in the AFL, while sister Yasmin plays for Carlton in the AFLW. Duursma's selection at pick No.1 tops his siblings' draft positions: Xavier went at pick No.18 in 2018, Zane at pick No.4 in 2023, and Yasmin at pick No.45 in 2022.
Former No.1 pick Harley Reid was on stage to present Duursma with his West Coast jumper. The pair know each other well, as Reid previously had a relationship with Duursma's sister, Yasmin. During a post-draft interview, Duursma was asked about his love of superhero comics, leading to a lighthearted exchange. When asked if he and Reid would be like Batman and Robin, Duursma quickly responded, 'If I'm Batman,' drawing laughter. Presenter Sarah Jones praised his swagger, while St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna noted, 'Harley won't like that... Harley's Batman.'
Duursma, who stands at 193cm and can play multiple positions, has shown elite ability off halfback and in the midfield. He models his game on Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli. The Gippsland product expressed his excitement about being drafted, telling 7NEWS, 'Ever since I’ve really picked up a footy, I’ve just waited for this moment... Whether it’s West Coast, whether it’s anywhere else, it’d be unreal to go there.'
Duursma also revealed his background in dance, performing as a member of his mother Susie's dance academy. He teaches ballet and tap, crediting his dance training for helping his agility on the field. 'It’s definitely helped, especially being 193cm,' he said. 'You’ve got to be able to move well, otherwise you get found out going up against smaller mids.'
In other draft moves, Gold Coast selected Academy star Zeke Uwland with pick No.2, Carlton matched a bid for father-son gun Harry Dean at pick No.3, and West Coast used their second pick to select junior basketball ace Cooper Duff-Tytler at pick No.4. Gold Coast Academy product Dylan Patterson went at pick No.5 after the Suns matched another bid.
