Star Bombers recruit relishing new life and role in club’s recent success

Former Port Adelaide first-round draftee Xavier Duursma is relishing his move back to Victoria.

Duursma was traded to The Hangar at the end of the 2023 season for Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Pick 73, and two future fourth round picks.

The 24-year-old has loved playing in front of packed crowds of Essendon fans, who are currently second in the AFL for total attendance this year.

“It’s an honour to play in front of the red and black fans every week, they turn out every week,” Duursma said on SEN Breakfast.

The move was thought to be an attempt for Duursma to leave the wing at Port and gain more inside midfield minutes.

However, he says he's enjoying his outside role at the Dons on the periphery of an in-form engine room of Zach Merrett, Sam Durham and Jye Caldwell.

“Not really, I’m happy with my role on the wing and that’s where I know I can play my best footy,” he said when asked if he is worried about a lack of inside midfield minutes.

“I’m always looking to grow and improve as a player, if that means potentially going into the midfield for five minutes in the future that would be great. That’s not what I'm craving though and that’s not what I'm here for.”

The enjoyable move hasn’t just been of benefit to his footy, it has also helped him be closer with his family in his home state with brother Zane at North Melbourne and sister Yasmin at Carlton.

“I’m really happy, I'm really enjoying it here back in Melbourne with my family and mates close to me, it’s been a really nice fresh start,” Duursma added.

The club’s really embraced me, the boys have been fantastic, I'm in a really happy place and it has been everything I had hoped for.”

In the 2024 season, Duursma has averaged 18.3 disposals and kicked eight goals across 12 of Essendon's 17 games, after missing five games due to a quad injury sustained in May.