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Sport Nation
The No.1 draft prospect likening his game to Marcus Bontempelli
SEN • October 26th, 2025 12:52 pm
National Draft prospect Willem Duursma has his sights set high as his AFL career looms ever-nearer.
At 18 years of age and 193cm (6'4"), Duursma stands head and shoulders above his draft competition, will all likelihood suggesting that the West Coast Eagles will select the talented prospect with one of the first two selections in the upcoming National Draft.
The dynamic midfielder's height and superb athleticism separates him from the pack, likening his own game to a similar crop of tall midfield talents while moulding his football to that of a Western Bulldogs superstar.
“At my best, I'm your taller midfielder, a (Marcus) Bontempelli-type,” Duursma told SEN Breakfast.
“I've got a bit of polish and outside run as well. I do love running both ways, (I play) defensively pretty well.
“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.
“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.
“I think I've got a pretty good sidestep, which is based off (Day's).”
Currently occupying the number one spot on draft expert Cal Twomey’s Phantom Draft, Duursma is facing a very real possibility of being selected first overall in the 2025 AFL Draft, however is refusing to pay any attention to where he is selected.
“Obviously it would be nice (to go pick one), but to me, at the end of the day, I just want to get into whatever club that I go to and work as hard as I can as soon as I can,” Duursma told SEN Breakfast.
“I really care more about being at the club and making an impact straight away, and I think that’s one of my goals for next year – make an immediate impact wherever I am.”
Duursma, brother of Essendon’s Xavier, North Melbourne’s Zane and Carlton W’s Yasmin, grew up in country Victoria, representing Vic Country and Gippsland Power, captaining the Coates Talent League side while finishing runners up in the Morrish Medal - the TAC Cup under-18's best and fairest.
That said, the Victorian talent would be more than willing to move interstate if the Eagles were to select him in the early stages of the draft.
“I get this (question) a fair it,” he said.
“Because I’m a country boy living about two and a half hours away from the city already, I’ve got to move regardless.
“Football takes you many players, so I am happy to go wherever. Wherever I am, clubs will do a good job to look after me so it will sort itself out.”
If Duursma wasn’t to go Pick 1, the prospect believes that his Vic Country teammate and Carlton father-son should be selected at the pinnacle of the draft.
“I’d probably say Harry Dean (should go Pick 1), Carlton’s father-son,” Duursma said.
“I’ve been playing with him at Vic Country all year, in the backline, he is so competitive. He’s got really good skills for a taller defender, and he just works so hard.
“I took a leaf out of his book with the way he works so hard at the game, puts his body on the line all the time – I think it’s something that’s really special.”
Duursma will have his name called out on the first day of the 2025 AFL National Draft, with the first round kicking off on November 19th.
