Player Watch #7: Zane Duursma - 14 goals so far in 2026 - R.Beveridge says club yet to open contract talks with Duurs

[Arthur Cloke]

Glad he’s owned up to admitted he wasn’t doing the right things for the first two years. The club said it and his dad, after hearing it from the horses mouth we can finally move on from that.

Shows maturity which is a very positive sign in his growth and commitment. Big turning point. Reminds me of that LDU article three years ago.

Huge relief for all in Sunbury.

 

[Mr Pickle]

How fitting given his sister is named Yaz.

How fitting given his sister is named Yaz.

Was this song played when they showed the scores of the non televised games in the 90s?
Along with ‘Right on the tip of my tongue’?

 

[SLF]

Another Clarko success story.

 

[r_boy]

When he launched it from outside 50 the other day... I didn't realise he had such a long kick on him

 

[amaz199]

Love him.

Oozes class and another one of those '****! Not him!' whenever he gets the ball inside forward 50.

 

[SLF]

His ability on the outside of the boot is such a weapon. Opponents don't instinctively go to defend against it.

 

[Passmore]

Another Clarko success story.

Who'd a thought Clarko excels in man management? He's probably using some of this sorcery on Riley Hardeman.

 

[RightWingRoo]

Have to feel a bit for Xavier in the Duursma family. Zane and Willem get the elite talent and Zane and Yasmin get the looks.

 

[Passmore]

Have to feel a bit for Xavier in the Duursma family. Zane and Willem get the elite talent and Zane and Yasmin get the looks.

Xavier gets the property portfolio advice from Brad.

 

[Frank Thring]

Have to feel a bit for Xavier in the Duursma family. Zane and Willem get the elite talent and Zane and Yasmin get the looks.

Barry - Zane
Robin - Willem
Maurice - Xavier

 

[RightWingRoo]

Xavier gets the property portfolio advice from Brad.

And working his way into Bard's undroppable inner circle, buy taking his advice.

 

[year of the roo]

Barry - Zane
Robin - Willem
Maurice - Xavier

Andy - Yasmin?

 

[My Left Foote]

I feel like the article (and Zane himself in it) confirm his attitude, commitment and mindset probably weren't great before this year. The article actually confirms the concerns around him many held and maybe potentially the rumours that followed on from that.

It's just awesome for us that he's found a core group of guys that have really helped him feel like he belongs, and the club has aided in that with the support provided by staff.

Respectfully disagree. If you read what Zane says it’s not about a poor attitude or lack of commitment, it’s about confidence, managing his emotions and dealing with the pressures of being an AFL player.

He talks about "Getting really down on himself if he didn't do the right thing, if he wasn't in the right position".

Now he’s “Replacing negative thinking with an approach that keeps him accountable for his actions and outcomes” and "Implementing them into his game has helped him not worry about the mistakes and just focus on playing and having fun.

He also says he feels like he’s "Grown up a lot”.

All of those things point towards maturing as a person along with learning and understanding how to be a professional AFL footballer.

But that’s just how I see it and like you say it’s awesome that he's found a core group of guys that have helped him feel like he belongs and the club is supporting him.

 

[My Left Foote]

How fitting given his sister is named Yaz.

Ha! I didn’t even think of that.

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

Who'd a thought Clarko excels in man management? He's probably using some of this sorcery on Riley Hardeman.

I think the thing everyone is overlooking from that article is Zane has someone at the club to talk to about the mental side of his game.

 

[McKuursma]

Another Clarko success story.

More than most know, but it doesn't hurt that he's found his glue in Trembath etc.. to connect professional actualisation to his underlying identity. There's a lot of soft skills that go urecognised in the very best no matter the profession

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Xavier gets the property portfolio advice from Brad.

Have heard that Brad is looking to pivot into other investment opportunities after the fed budget announcing regarding Capital Gains Tax concessions.

Interesting times ahead for Bard.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Love that we are just keeping him in the side. Would be helping his confidence heaps & surely goes a long way to him recommitting, opposed to him yo-yo-ing in & out of the side.
Tracking well now…

 

[Twinkletoes]

Was this song played when they showed the scores of the non televised games in the 90s?
Along with ‘Right on the tip of my tongue’?

Yep

 

[Ura]

I ask this question with all genuine intent…. Who at the club OKd his mentor being Stephenson? I would ask some serious questions about that. Not sure if it was organic or encouraged. I do question if that hurt his start at the club.

The group he has now seems to all be high character people. Bath and Thredgold both seem like the most genuine of people. I’m sure Baths rose has probably also been a huge motivation for him in a really positive sense

 

[DuckYeah]

Duursma said.

"So the club is definitely feeling more like home now. And it hopefully will be for the foreseeable future."

Not according to Chads sauce

 

[DuckYeah]

When he launched it from outside 50 the other day... I didn't realise he had such a long kick on him

Of course he does, Gippslanders are built different.

 

[SLF]

Have to feel a bit for Xavier in the Duursma family. Zane and Willem get the elite talent and Zane and Yasmin get the looks.

He got the crappy "celly".

 

[SLF]

Duursma said.

"So the club is definitely feeling more like home now. And it hopefully will be for the foreseeable future."

Not according to Chads sauce

I wasn't here during trade period last year, but I did read some of the posting, especially about Zane.

Chadwiko wasn't wrong in the general sense - Zane was unsettled last year and Essendon certainly did ask the question.

Zane himself in the article yesterday talks about how he wasn't happy and his efforts around the club and in terms of living a professional footballer's lifestyle weren't up to scratch.

The club had serious concerns about whether Zane would make it in that regard.

But Zane has by his own admission changed his attitude - the club certainly helped there, a bit of chance helped but most of all Zane himself has put in the work.

Whacking Chad now for six months ago posts is unfair given how much the situation has changed.

(Albeit the Duursma/Reid wedding scene he painted was true BF gold).

 

[DuckYeah]

Whacking Chad now for six months ago posts is unfair given how much the situation has changed.

Never.