Get ready to witness history in the making! The West Coast Eagles have just crowned Willem Duursma as their No.1 pick in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft, marking a monumental moment for both the club and the Duursma family. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating: Willem is now the fourth sibling in his family to join the AFL/AFLW ranks, joining his sister Yasmin (Carlton) and brothers Xavier (Essendon) and Zane (North Melbourne) at the pinnacle of Australian football. And this is the part most people miss—Willem isn’t just another draftee; he’s a dynamic, versatile talent who can play as an intercepting defender, tall midfielder, or attacking forward, making him a game-changer for the Eagles’ rebuild.
Presented with his jumper by young star Harley Reid (the 2023 No.1 pick), Duursma’s selection was a no-brainer for West Coast, who held the first two picks in Wednesday night’s draft. But here’s the controversial part: Did the Eagles make the right call prioritizing Duursma over other contenders like Cooper Duff-Tytler and Zeke Uwland? While Duursma’s stellar draft year—including All-Australian honors and MVP accolades for Vic Country—solidified his case, some argue the club could have gone in a different direction. What do you think? Let’s debate it in the comments!
Standing at 193cm, the Foster-born utility has already made waves, starring for Gippsland Power and even making two VFL senior appearances with the Casey Demons. Fun fact: He’s the first player from Gippsland Power to be selected with the No.1 pick since Brendon Goddard in 2002. Talk about following in legendary footsteps!
West Coast’s draft night didn’t stop there. After securing Duursma, they launched bids on Gold Coast’s Zeke Uwland and Carlton’s father-son prospect Harry Dean, only to have both clubs match the offers. The Eagles eventually snagged Duff-Tytler at pick No.4, adding another athletic ruck/forward to their burgeoning midfield. But the question remains: Did they miss an opportunity to land a bigger fish?
Meanwhile, Richmond made waves at pick No.5, targeting Gold Coast’s Dylan Patterson and Brisbane’s Daniel Annable, before settling on Sam Cumming and Sam Grlj—two players who could reshape their future. And let’s not forget Essendon’s bold move at pick No.9, snapping up draft bolter Sullivan Robey after his Grand Final heroics. Is Robey the steal of the draft, or is there another player we’re all sleeping on?
This draft is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for several clubs, but none more so than West Coast. With Duursma leading the charge, the Eagles are betting big on youth and versatility. Will it pay off, or will they regret not taking a different path? Share your thoughts below—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss!
