FOOTBALL
AFL EXPORTS
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
FOR the third time in draft history, a Gippsland boy’s name was read out first.
The 2025 AFL Draft saw the West Coast Eagles select Foster’s own Willem Duursma with Pick 1 out of Gippsland Power.
He was greeted on stage by AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon and 2023 Number 1 draftee Harley Reid, who congratulated Duursma and handed him his new Eagles jumper.
“It’s obviously very special, you work so hard over the years and it’s obviously a dream come true, I’m pretty happy,” Duursma told Fox Footy.
The Foster export will be guided by Traralgon’s Andrew McQualter as senior coach and under the wing of current Gippslanders in Drouin’s Ryan Maric and fellow South Gippsland boy, Inverloch’s Archer Reid.
It had been suspected for months that Duursma would be taken with the top selection, and has now completed a quartet of siblings featuring in the AFL and AFLW.
Willem joins brothers Xavier (Essendon, drafted in 2018) and Zane (North Melbourne, 2023) and sister Yasmin (Carlton, 2022), with the youngest and most recent taken at highest pick of any of the family.
Duursma has taken the tag as the standout player of his draft class in stride.
“It’s not easy, I think throughout the year you find that out, but having the support of my mates, my family, that’s really why they’re here tonight (because) they’ve been a really good help for me – all my coaches and stuff, the whole of Foster as well,” he said.
“It’s just been really special, all that support all year and I’m thankful for it.”
After bursting onto the scene last year, Duursma rose even further during an exceptional year for Power where they reached a preliminary final, averaging 23.5 disposals, 5.2 marks and more than a goal per game in 2025.
He was selected in the Victoria Country team for the National Championships and played two VFL games for Casey.
Ironically, he possessed much greater numbers the season prior for Gippsland Power in his first official year of under 18s, averaging 29.4 disposals, 4.6 marks and 1.7 goals per game played.
Back home, plenty packed into the social rooms at Foster Football-Netball Club last Wednesday night (November 10), as the reigning Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League senior premier celebrated the Duursma family’s success.
Duursma joins Traralgon’s Brendon Goddard and Woodside’s Anthony Banik as Gippsland talents to be taken with the first selection in the national draft.
MELBOURNE used its 30th selection to take Gippsland Power captain Tom Matthews.
The Moe and Trafalgar junior was taken with one of the first picks of the draft’s second round proceedings, completing a whirlwind two years and displayed the phenomenal perseverance of the 18-year-old.
“Very overwhelmed, it’s very surreal, I’m just stoked to be here – I think the first person I met was Max Gawn, so that was so unreal,” Matthews told the Demons media.
“It was big mixed emotions, like everyone jumped on me (when his name got called out)… it was so amazing.”
After an outstanding preseason entering his final year of under 18s, Matthews was named Power captain, but a knee injury sustained in Round 1 (which he attempted to play on in an effort to be picked for Victoria Country) didn’t see him return until finals.
Matthews showcased all he had to offer in a state trial game in May against the Young Guns where he booted four goals, including the match-winner, and was one of the most dangerous players on Vic Country’s squad.
Despite undergoing surgery on a PCL tear at the end of the season, the Demons still saw what was special about Matthews, with the club prioritising potential and talent during a rebuilding phase.
Matthews joins a healthy contingent of Gippsland exports on Melbourne’s list, including former Power teammates in Morwell’s Ricky Mentha and Inverloch’s Xavier Lindsay, as well as recently acquired Morwell’s Changkuoth Jiath (from Hawthorn).
The 2025 Number 1 pick, Willem Duursma had this to say about Matthews:
“He will just give 110 (per cent), determination and dedication. His pressure and goal kicking is unbelievable,” he told Zero Hanger.
Matthews will also once again be under former Gippsland Power coach Rhett McLennan, who was recently announced as Casey Demons head coach for next season – Melbourne’s VFL affiliate club.
McLennan was understandably quite happy to still be a part of Matthews’ journey, and spoke about what makes him such a great choice.
“The games that he played this year and last (year) showed that when he’s fully fit, he has all the characteristics, football and attitude-wise of a high level AFL small forward,” he told the Express.
“He is a ‘create something out of nothing’ type player that are all the rage at the moment.
“I’m wrapped to be able to still be involved in Tom’s development.”
Matthews said having that familiarity stepping in to a historic club makes him feel that little bit more at ease.
“It just makes me feel a lot more comfortable around here … it just makes the transition so much easier,” he said.
“Rhett McLennan was amazing to me throughout the year, which made we feel so comfortable with it (injuries).”
