Essendon recruit Xavier Duursma has opened up on his trade period move.
The wingman departed Port Adelaide after 73 games in a final-minute trade period switch with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and some late picks going back the Power’s way.
Duursma burst onto the scene as a teenager after being taken with pick No. 18 in the 2018 Draft but failed to reach those same heights in 2022 and 2023 playing 27 games across the last two campaigns.
The 23-year-old made the decision to depart for multiple reasons and he says one of them was struggles that he’s had with his body as he hopes a fresh start gets him back to full health.
“It’s a bit of a tough one,” Duursma said on SEN Sportsday.
“I've had a few struggles in terms of my body in the last few years.
“I've had two serious knee injuries that have taken me out for at least half the season.
“I've had some issues as well with some of my shoulder and other small niggles as well.
“That has not really given me a good enough chance to really perform as well as I'd like and as probably as well as the club would have probably liked me to as well.
“I think I just got a little bit in luck unlucky in that regard.”
Before making the move, some were suggesting Duursma wanted out of Port Adelaide to play more of a midfield role.
Despite those murmurings, the player himself says that he’s a wingman first and foremost and expects to play that role in the red and black.
“To be honest, I've seen a fair bit of this stuff come out around as well in the media (about playing midfield),” Duursma said.
“I'd like to be able to say that I'm a winger first and foremost.
“That's where I've been playing the majority. 90 to 95 per cent of my time at AFL level has been played on the wing.
“I know that role quite well and I feel like I can really help the Bombers in that regard playing out there on the wing with the way that they play.
“I think I can bring my skill set and help do that out there. But at the same time, I don't think there's anything off the table. If I need to be able to go and do other roles for the Bombers as well if that's what's required of me.
“But my number one position where I think I'll be starting and what it looks like is I'll be playing wing.”
While Duursma has played in several huge games for Port Adelaide including big finals and Showdowns, one thing he’s looking forward to with Essendon is potentially featuring in marquee games throughout the home and away season.
“I'd be lying if I said it's not a massive factor,” Duursma said.
“I think that's really awesome and part of the reason that I chose Essendon as a place that I'd like to be able to play.
“I think it's an amazing opportunity to be able to play in some of the biggest games that Australian football gets to hold.
“I think Anzac Day and Dreamtime at the ‘G is just an amazing opportunity and I'm so excited to be able to potentially be a part of that.
“If I'm lucky enough to be out there playing in any of those games, it'll be probably the biggest crowd that I've ever played in front of.
“I'm already itching to get out there.”
Now that he’s a Bomber, Duursma was asked if he’d like his brother – top 10 draft prospect Zane – to join him at the club.
While the Bombers enter the draft at pick No. 9 as things sit, Duursma says he’d love the club to somehow work their way up the order and somehow get their hands on Zane.
“Now that I'm here, I'm hoping that he can,” Duursma said.
“I'd love to be able to see Adrian Dodoro work some of his magic.
“But I don’t know, it’s obviously not going to be easy.
“I'd absolutely love it if he was able to come somehow and get to the Bombers.
“I'm also just going to be happy for him wherever he goes because I know he's going to add a lot to whatever team he's going to be playing for.”
Zane Duursma is currently rated as the third-best under-18 player in Cal Twomey’s Phantom Form Guide on AFL.com.au.