Zane goes Pick 4

– Foster footy factory delivers again

DRAFTED at Pick 4 in the Australian Football League draft on Monday night, Zane 
Duursma, who turned 18 years of age in August, has the world at his feet after being taken by North Melbourne.

Zane told The Mirror that he was not too fussed who selected him and thought it would either be  North Melbourne or Hawthorn.

But he didn’t know until draft night where he would end up.

It’s been a busy few months for Zane who was interviewed by many clubs in the lead up to the draft, and last Thursday he had to be at the MCG to do a media event.

Just to keep him grounded, he was also in the Susan Green School of Dance production “An Adventure in Rio” last weekend which no doubt kept his mind off the draft for a few hours at least.

Zane said he would like to thank his mum Susie and dad Dean and siblings Xavier, Yasi and Willem for all their support and back yard games of football which has culminated with the opportunity to get this far.

He said the Foster Football Netball Club, the Corner Inlet Junior Football Club and the South Gippsland Secondary College had all played a part in his journey which he is very grateful for.

As a talented junior, Zane only got to play about 10 senior games of football for Foster before going to Gippsland Power where he played another 31 games and kicked 71 goals over the past couple of years.

He won Gippsland Power’s best and fairest and leading goal kicker this season, and also made the Coates Talent League team of the year selected across half forward.

He likes to play as a forward, but also expects to be moved into the midfield as his career develops.

He never barracked for any one team, but just loved watching football. His favourite player was Fremantle star and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe.

He never expected to get drafted by Essendon who his brother Xavier now plays for after 73 games at Port Adelaide, but did say he is looking forward to playing against him at some time.

Sister Yasi is still tied to Port Adelaide in the AFLW competition, while young brother Willem could be the fourth member of the family to achieve an AFL calling but will have to wait until the 2025 draft.

The Foster Football Netball Club are very proud of all the Duursmas who have been drafted so far, and also Ryan Angwin who plays for GWS Giants and Brett Eddy who got drafted by Port Adelaide a few years ago.

The Foster football factory is alive and well! No doubt all the time and effort put in by Dean who coached Foster to the 2010 premiership and mum Susie have paid dividends over many years. 

Along with former Fish Creek player Sam Flanders, there is plenty of local talent running around in the big league at present.

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