Player Watch #7: Zane Duursma - staying at North in 2026

[BrownPaperBag]

Enough probably.

Next group: Banch, Daniel, McDonald, Simpkins, Stephens.

All of them are under the pump to improve-again in Stephens case, to finding it or again in Simpkins case, McDonalds keep 2025 form going.


Because we have so many who need to show something, anything. IMO those two are not even in the spotlight.

George more so than urqhart. Has been on the list for a while and can’t get on the park , urqharts second year on the list and doesn’t look close to even being a fringe player. For what you say about the others you’ve listed yes they need to have good years but at least they can get on the park and in some cases can perform a role (not withstanding the fact we could and should seek improvement on those types) but again on George and urqhart (to a lesser extent) how long do we keep them on a list for them to something, regardless of the reasons they haven’t really looked close to cracking the squad , they have to show something soon. Say george has another layoff, how long do we give him 5 years, 10?

 

[Chip Scab1]

George more so than urqhart. Has been on the list for a while and can’t get on the park , urqharts second year on the list and doesn’t look close to even being a fringe player. For what you say about the others you’ve listed yes they need to have good years but at least they can get on the park and in some cases can perform a role (not withstanding the fact we could and should seek improvement on those types) but again on George and urqhart (to a lesser extent) how long do we keep them on a list for them to something, regardless of the reasons they haven’t really looked close to cracking the squad , they have to show something soon. Say george has another layoff, how long do we give him 5 years, 10?

Brayden George? 2026 and 2027. Same for Urquhart.

2 more season to show something.

 

[King Corey]

Brayden George? 2026 and 2027. Same for Urquhart.

2 more season to show something.

Urqhart might be OOC after 2026?

 

[GoRoos2023]

Its probably more him looking for new pastures, as I'm sure we will be in the same boat with Tsatas as well if he doesn't have a good year, especially after us drafting mids.

North just threw away a pick 3 and we threw away a pick 13. Sometimes its better to move them on, than hope they come good.

You manifesting lad?

 

[iloveireland]

Some people are going to look real dumb when this kid makes it

Couldn’t be happier to be proved wrong.

His attitude really concerns me. His effort concerns me. His talent doesn’t. But talent alone isn’t enough and I am unsure if that pig headed boy will get his head sorted.

 

[perplexed]

Brayden George? 2026 and 2027. Same for Urquhart.

2 more season to show something.

Na. Both OOC at the end of 2026, along with another 19 players.

 

[DuckYeah]

LOL Go Hard? They offered a future second.

Thats his market value

 

[Chip Scab1]

Na. Both OOC at the end of 2026, along with another 19 players.

If we don't extend BGeorge we're beyond help.

I'd happily give them both an extension.

If Zachariah Fisher can get 4, BGeorge can get another 1... you need only look at the photos from training to realise this.

Urqhart might be OOC after 2026?

I don't care for Urquhart, never seen him play, wasn't rated to be good. Anything we get from him is a bonus.

Braydo, however is not Gav's brother. It's like comparing Greg Campbell and Glenn McGrath and saying, yeah they're both Aussie Fast Bowlers.

I'm all for hurrying up our decisions, just feel we need to be even more patient with ya Goaters, George's, Goodness Goad, WDawson, MWhitlock... actual needle movers if they come good.

Being patient and not dishing out overs to cats isn't such a big ask.

It's probably more him looking for new pastures, as I'm sure we will be in the same boat with Tsatas as well if he doesn't have a good year, especially after us drafting mids.

North just threw away a pick 3 and we threw away a pick 13. Sometimes its better to move them on, than hope they come good.

Mate, I have no idea what you're on about. The only thing Zane and your butcher have in common is they both have 2 legs and play in AFLM.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Na. Both OOC at the end of 2026, along with another 19 players.

Correct, so let's keep the ones who can play or at least have shown they can dominate in juniors.

We have enough short or non-talented, slow players to sink a battle ship.

19 OOC says it all. Just close your eyes and point, you'll probably select someone we can afford to lose.

 

[perplexed]

Correct, so let's keep the ones who can play or at least have shown they can dominate in juniors.

We have enough short or non-talented, slow players to sink a battle ship.

19 OOC says it all. Just close your eyes and point, you'll probably select someone we can afford to lose.

We aren't going to struggle finding blokes to delist. More a matter of only turning over as many as we can replace with decent prospects.

 

[Frank Thring]

Mate, I have no idea what you're on about. The only thing Zane and your butcher have in common is they both have 2 legs and play in AFLM.

Do we really need this distinction?

 

[spurs]

Thats his market value

How's that?

It was his salary that reduced his market value. FMD, if the Weagles can get compo pick 2 for Oscar Allen then we should get a pick in the mid to late teens for him.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Do we really need this distinction?

No, we don't at all. But the girls need to be kept seperate as they're good and don't require any tinkering.

How's that?

It was his salary that reduced his market value. FMD, if the Weagles can get compo pick 2 for Oscar Allen then we should get a pick in the mid to late teens for him.

He's contracted, so it needs to be taken into consideration. With no ridiculous contract, he might be worth pick 20, with ridiculous contract and the fact he's slow, can't kick and not particularly rabid, he's maybe worth pick 35 (maybe).

 

[spurs]

He's contracted, so it needs to be taken into consideration. With no ridiculous contract, he might be worth pick 20, with ridiculous contract and the fact he's slow, can't kick and not particularly rabid, he's maybe worth pick 35 (maybe).

pick 35? Get off the smack.

 

[Chip Scab1]

pick 35? Get off the smack.

i'd suggest it's you who needs a dose of reality, mate. He's a cat, a turncoat cat.

Free to shit home imo.

 

[spurs]

i'd suggest it's you who needs a dose of reality, mate. He's a cat, a turncoat cat.

Free to shit home imo.

I agree but he’s worth more than pick 35

 

[shintemaster]

Brayden George? 2026 and 2027. Same for Urquhart.

2 more season to show something.

Not having a go at anyone in particular but is it me or does it feel like expectations on players are extreme now from the get go. I don't personally think it is unreasonable that a player drafted at 18 wouldn't necessarily have to be considered in our best 25 players 1-2 years in. It's great if that occurs sure, but in the long term it doesn't seem sustainable to expect that each year we are drafting minimum 3 players and they should be established senior players by the age of 20.

 

[DuckYeah]

How's that?

It was his salary that reduced his market value. FMD, if the Weagles can get compo pick 2 for Oscar Allen then we should get a pick in the mid to late teens for him.

Oscar allen is a big key forward that can play..

Im not expressing my views on Jy again. But he’s not worth a pinch of shit. He thinks he’s better than Zak Butters because he gets paid more. Let that sink in

 

[DuckYeah]

Zachariah Fisher can get 4

This has been a fundamental list mistake for some time. Recruiting B graders at best, washed up and useless on massive deals. Pay the kids more and make deals with them. Pay more now and later we negotiate fair pay. Ive never liked North over paying these potatoes

 

[Chip Scab1]

honestly hope he does, we need it so bad.

but at this stage all he's shown is that he hasn't copped very well with AFL level footy and training.

oh and that one mark of course. i don't want to upset anyone.

It's not upsetting. You are who you are. It's not our fault you can't see talent.

Not having a go at anyone in particular but is it me or does it feel like expectations on players are extreme now from the get go. I don't personally think it is unreasonable that a player drafted at 18 wouldn't necessarily have to be considered in our best 25 players 1-2 years in. It's great if that occurs sure, but in the long term it doesn't seem sustainable to expect that each year we are drafting minimum 3 players and they should be established senior players by the age of 20.

We're obviously too old, mate. It's infuriating that there's members of "our family" who have given up on this kid before the age of 21.

Chuck in those who want to trade out Brayden who reported back in ridiculous nick.

I've tried to be normal, but it's hard when there's so many who actively think he's a dud. I've said it before, I'll say it again, he's legit crazy talented, ok he's not crazy focused as yet, but you have to think sibling rivalry will push him over the edge to get the best out of himself (which will greatly benefit us).

 

[shintemaster]

It's not upsetting. You are who you are. It's not our fault you can't see talent.

We're obviously too old, mate. It's infuriating that there's members of "our family" who have given up on this kid before the age of 21.

Chuck in those who want to trade out Brayden who reported back in ridiculous nick.

I've tried to be normal, but it's hard when there's so many who actively think he's a dud. I've said it before, I'll say it again, he's legit crazy talented, ok he's not crazy focused as yet, but you have to think sibling rivalry will push him over the edge to get the best out of himself (which will greatly benefit us).

I just think back to the expectations back around the Laidley / early Scott era - there was no expectation that kids would have to come in and be guns from 10 games in and their first year on a list. They're still very young, they can still come in, hit their straps after 3-4 years and have significant careers. We don't need to hold onto every player forever, there needs to be obvious development and yes we definitely will give more leeway to a 200cm athletic freak over a 180cm small forward but I just think we gave players like Andrew Swallow time and they still become strong clubmen who had significant careers. Based on the games of experience we shed last year we have in theory hit the bottom of that churn cycle and all going well we will have more and more players over the next 4-5 years that can't and shouldn't get a game until a few years into their careers.

 

[King Corey]

This has been a fundamental list mistake for some time. Recruiting B graders at best, washed up and useless on massive deals. Pay the kids more and make deals with them. Pay more now and later we negotiate fair pay. Ive never liked North over paying these potatoes

If you're going that way I'd at least look for blokes who look like they add some character to the place like Tommy Campbell or Brynn T.

Instead we targeted a flakey bloke who probably joined the club to reunite with his WA U18 mates and be mentored off-field by Curtis Taylor.

 

[Themanbun]

It's not upsetting. You are who you are. It's not our fault you can't see talent.

We're obviously too old, mate. It's infuriating that there's members of "our family" who have given up on this kid before the age of 21.

Chuck in those who want to trade out Brayden who reported back in ridiculous nick.

I've tried to be normal, but it's hard when there's so many who actively think he's a dud. I've said it before, I'll say it again, he's legit crazy talented, ok he's not crazy focused as yet, but you have to think sibling rivalry will push him over the edge to get the best out of himself (which will greatly benefit us).

I'm yet to see anyone doubt that he has innate talent.

What people question is whether he has the tools to make that talent work for him at AFL level.

There are plenty of blokes floating around the country with great mitts, very good skills and a mad vertical leap. They have insane talent, but unless they can run at the insane level required for AFL level and compete physically, they never fulfill that talent.

 

[Chip Scab1]

I'm yet to see anyone doubt that he has innate talent.

What people question is whether he has the tools to make that talent work for him at AFL level.

There are plenty of blokes floating around the country with great mitts, very good skills and a mad vertical leap. They have insane talent, but unless they can run at the insane level required for AFL level and compete physically, they never fulfill that talent.

You can make that call after the injuries he has had? Before he reaches 21? Wow, your crystal ball should be in a museum.

There are maybe 1-2 other non white dudes who can do what he can do. You call it whatever you want, I call it talent.

How many people could do that in North's History?

Let's go through them...

1. Winston Abraham
2. John McCarthy
3: Fruity Allison

There's 3 in 35 years.

 

[Themanbun]

You can make that call after the injuries he has had? Before he reaches 21? Wow, your crystal ball should be in a museum.

There are maybe 1-2 other non white dudes who can do what he can do. You call it whatever you want, I call it talent.

How many people could do that in North's History?

Let's go through them...

1. Winston Abraham
2. John McCarthy
3: Fruity Allison

There's 3 in 35 years.

Question being the key word. People are allowed to question.