Willem Duursma: Biography, Height, Age, Position, Injury

There’s a unique kind of pressure that comes with being the No. 1 draft pick in the AFL. Willem Duursma, the 191 cm midfielder selected first overall by the West Coast Eagles in the 2025 AFL Draft, carries that weight at just 18 years old.

Full name: Willem Duursma ·
Date of birth: 21 June 2007 ·
Height: 191–193 cm ·
Position: Midfielder ·
Club: West Coast Eagles ·
AFL debut: 18 years 267 days

Seven key data points, one pattern: Duursma is a physically imposing young midfielder who entered the AFL system with exceptional junior credentials and a clear pathway.

What injury does Willem Duursma have?

Injury status and availability

• As of the 2025 season opener, Duursma is not listed on the West Coast Eagles injury list (West Coast Eagles official club site).
• No major injury has been reported since his AFL debut.

West Coast’s official player profile lists Duursma as available, with no medical concerns flagged. The implication: the club’s No. 1 draft pick entered the season in full health, with no restrictions on his training or match participation.

The pattern: a healthy debut season gives West Coast the flexibility to accelerate his development without injury constraints.

Who are Willem Duursma’s parents?

Family background and upbringing

• The full names of Duursma’s parents have not been publicly disclosed on the West Coast Eagles website or Wikipedia (West Coast Eagles).
• Media reports confirm family support played a role in his development, with siblings also in elite football.

West Coast’s draft coverage describes Duursma as the “youngest member of the Duursma football family” (West Coast Eagles draft file), noting that his siblings Xavier, Zane, and Yasmin have all played at elite levels. The pattern: the Duursma name is well-established in Australian football circles, but the parents themselves have chosen to remain out of the public spotlight.

Does Willem Duursma have a brother?

Siblings in AFL

• Xavier Duursma is a confirmed sibling — both play elite football, with Xavier at Port Adelaide (West Coast Eagles).
• Zane Duursma is also a sibling, though not currently listed in AFL records.
• Yasmin Duursma, a sister, competes in elite women’s football.

West Coast’s draft file explicitly states that Willem “follows siblings Xavier, Zane, and Yasmin into elite football” (West Coast Eagles). The catch: Xavier Duursma, who played for Port Adelaide and later Essendon, is the most recognizable name in AFL circles, but Willem is now the highest-drafted member of the family.

How tall is Willem Duursma?

Physical measurements

• Height: 191 cm per Wikipedia (Wikipedia), 193 cm per the West Coast Eagles club website and AFL Tables.
• Weight: not published by any official source.

Rookie Me Central, a dedicated AFL draft scouting site, also lists Duursma at 191 cm (Rookie Me Central), while Zero Hanger matches that figure (Zero Hanger). The discrepancy between 191 cm and 193 cm likely reflects measurement variation between pre-draft combines and club assessments. For a midfielder, either measurement places him well above the average height for the position.

The implication: his height range makes him a versatile asset, capable of matching up on taller opponents while still covering ground like a traditional on-baller.

How old is Willem Duursma?

Age and debut timeline

• Born 21 June 2007 (West Coast Eagles).
• Age at AFL debut: 18 years and 267 days (Wikipedia).

When Duursma ran out for his first AFL game, he was still a teenager — and one of the youngest players on the field. Rookie Me Central confirms his birth date as 21 June 2007 (Rookie Me Central), and Footyinfo lists the same date (Footyinfo). The trade-off: being draft-eligible at 18 means he has years of development ahead, but West Coast is betting on his trajectory rather than his current polish.

What position does Willem Duursma play?

Playing role and style

• Listed as a midfielder by the West Coast Eagles (West Coast Eagles club profile).
• Also described as a “utility, specifically a midfielder/defender” in the club’s draft file (West Coast Eagles).
• Wears jersey number 19.

Rookie Me Central describes Duursma as a “Gippsland Power midfielder-defender” (Rookie Me Central), and Zero Hanger lists him as a midfielder (Zero Hanger). The pattern: his versatility is a selling point. At junior level, he played through the midfield and across half-back, giving West Coast flexibility in how they develop him.

What is Willem Duursma’s nationality and heritage?

Nationality and cultural background

• Nationality: Australian — he plays for an Australian club and represented Vic Country at the 2025 AFL Under-18 National Championships (West Coast Eagles).
• Heritage: his surname suggests Dutch ancestry, but no official confirmation of nationality beyond Australian exists.

Zero Hanger lists Victoria as his eligibility region (Zero Hanger), and all official sources identify him as an Australian footballer. The surname Duursma is of Dutch origin, common in the Netherlands and among Dutch diaspora communities, but neither the club nor Wikipedia addresses his heritage directly. What this means: the Dutch connection is a reasonable inference from the name, but it remains unconfirmed by any official source.

Timeline

• 21 June 2007 — Born.
• 2024–2025 — Played for Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League; captained the Coates Talent League Team of the Year; finished runner-up in the Morrish Medal (West Coast Eagles).
• 2025 — Represented Vic Country at the AFL Under-18 National Championships; won Vic Country’s MVP award; earned All-Australian honours (West Coast Eagles).
• 2025 — Made VFL debut with Casey Demons (West Coast Eagles).
• 2025 AFL Draft — Selected No. 1 overall by the West Coast Eagles (West Coast Eagles).
• 2025 season — AFL debut at 18 years and 267 days.

The pattern: his rapid ascent through junior ranks suggests he adapts quickly to higher levels, but the AFL step remains the biggest test.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Date of birth: 21 June 2007 — confirmed by West Coast Eagles official draft file and Rookie Me Central.
• Club: West Coast Eagles — confirmed by West Coast Eagles club profile.
• Position: Midfielder — confirmed by West Coast Eagles and Rookie Me Central.
• Height: 191–193 cm — confirmed by West Coast Eagles, Wikipedia, and Rookie Me Central.
• Debut age: 18 years 267 days — confirmed by Wikipedia.
• No injury listed at start of 2025 season — confirmed by West Coast Eagles official site.
• Siblings include Xavier, Zane, and Yasmin — confirmed by West Coast Eagles draft file.
• Drafted No. 1 overall in 2025 — confirmed by West Coast Eagles and multiple sources.

What’s unclear

• Full names of parents — not publicly disclosed.
• Weight — not published by any official source.
• Specific heritage beyond surname suggestion — unconfirmed.

The clarity check shows that the core biographical data is solid, while the gaps cluster around private family details.

Quotes

“Willem is the youngest member of the Duursma football family, following siblings Xavier, Zane, and Yasmin into elite football.”

West Coast Eagles official draft file

“Willem Duursma (born 21 June 2007) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).”

Wikipedia entry

“A Gippsland Power midfielder-defender, Duursma is a big-bodied prospect with strong overhead marking ability and a penetrating kick.”

Rookie Me Central draft profile

These quotes from three different sources reinforce the core narrative: a talented, family-connected young player with a clear skill set.

Summary

Willem Duursma enters the AFL as a 191 cm midfielder with a family pedigree, a stack of junior honours, and a clean bill of health. For West Coast Eagles fans, the choice is clear: give him the midfield minutes to develop, or risk stalling the most promising draft prospect the club has had in years. For the player himself, the pressure of being No. 1 is real — but so is the opportunity.

Fans eager for details on his recovery can find a comprehensive timeline in the Willem Duursma injury update.

Frequently asked questions

The FAQ covers the most common queries, with the unanswered ones reflecting the limited public profile of a young player early in his career.

Related reading

• Harley Reid: Biography, Stats, Contract & Injury Update — another young West Coast Eagles No. 1 draft pick profile.
• Oleg Markov: AFL career, retirement & 2026 plans — AFL player biography covering career pathway.