Duursma opens up on Kangaroos exit and ‘mentally taxing’ period

New Melbourne recruit Zane Duursma has opened up about a “mentally taxing” season that contributed to his decision to leave North Melbourne and seek a fresh start at the Demons.

The 21-year-old has played just 38 games since being selected with pick No.4 in the 2023 National Draft and struggled to cement his place in the senior side before securing a move to Melbourne on the penultimate day of the Trade Period.

Duursma revealed new North Melbourne coach Jaymie Graham had called him while he was holidaying in Japan to make one final pitch for him to remain at Arden Street, but his heart was already set on a new chapter in the red and blue.

“Probably (not) cementing my spot in the senior side, I feel like I was a bit here and there throughout the three years I was at North Melbourne. Just finding my way was challenging,” Duursma said on SEN's The Run Home with Andy and Gazey.

“It comes back to that meeting I had with the Dees; they were just so honest and open and had a really inviting aura around what they were offering. That’s sort of what won me over. “I was actually in Japan on holidays when I got a WhatsApp call from Jaymie Graham.

“He quite simply just told me he believes I’m in their future and they have great plans for me coming up in the next however long I would’ve been at North Melbourne. But I simply just told him I’d already made my decision up.

“But I couldn’t speak more higher of Jaymie Graham; he was fantastic the way he handled it.”

Duursma also spoke about the pressures of being a high draft pick, admitting his frustrations at struggling to regularly find the football at AFL level had taken a toll on his confidence.

He conceded that external expectations and criticism on social media had affected him, particularly during his second and third seasons.

“It’s mentally taxing. We have fantastic psychologists that we see and I can’t speak any higher of the AFLPA for helping me out in that regard. In all honesty, it is hard to manage but we have the right people and resources to manage it,” Duursma added.

“I definitely know it did (impact me). I know in my second and third year, it definitely got to me. Scrolling on Instagram, you see it. I myself would sometimes click on the old comment section and have a quick read.

“It’s something you’re sort of drawn to as a younger guy, and you want to see that stuff and see what people are saying.”

Duursma envisages himself playing a roaming half-forward role under Steven King in 2027 as he looks to establish himself at AFL level and help the Demons build on a promising first season under their new coach.