Port Adelaide trade news: How did Xavier Duursma go from third star musketeer to being traded in the space of five years?
In round one 2019, Port unveiled their three musketeers in Rozee, Butters and Duursma. The first two have become All-Australians and best and fairests. So what happened for Xavier Duursma?
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In 2019 they were Port Adelaide’s Three Musketeers.
Four years on and Xavier Duursma has been left in the shadows. It can’t have been easy.
Rewind to the start of 2019 and Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Duursma, along with Willem Drew, made powerful debuts as Port upset Melbourne at the MCG.
The hype surrounding the trifecta of players taken in the first round of the 2018 super draft swirled all season.
Rozee was drafted at No.5, Butters at No.12 and Duursma at No.18.
Rozee was nominated for the Rising Star in round 3 and Duursma in round 6. The boy with the bow-and-arrow celebration was a smash hit at Alberton.
Duursma placed ninth in the 2019 best-and-fairest, one ahead of club legend Robbie Gray, and beat Butters in that vote count.
He had bolted out of the blocks, even more so than Butters. In 2021 Duursma inherited Brad Ebert’s No.7 jumper.
But he managed only 11 games that season and finished 25th in the best-and-fairest. Injuries started to blunt his brutal running power and aerial prowess that had shone so brightly.
And since that whirlwind debut season, the Gippsland boy has watched the two teenagers he was drafted alongside storm on to superstardom.
Last year Rozee won Port Adelaide’s best-and-fairest. This year Butters won it, and Rozee was runner-up.
Rozee has been named All-Australian the past two seasons. Butters received a blazer this year as he gave the Brownlow Medal a shake.
Duursma is still searching for his first Brownlow Medal vote, and in a flash the Three Musketeers have been trimmed to two.
Duursma played 20 games in 2019, but he hasn’t managed that many in a season since.
The 23-year-old is contracted for next season. But it makes sense why a fresh start would appeal to him.
This is his chance to get out of the shadows of Rozee and Butters – who are two genuine stars of the game – and start again.
The constant comparisons to his draft mates are unfair, even if Duursma dazzled just as brightly to begin with.
So when Essendon came calling it did not take long for Duursma to ask for a trade to Tullamarine.
Those close to Duursma say his decision was also based on his job description.
At Port Adelaide he has been asked to play a sacrificial role on a wing, one that does not sound overly enjoyable.
Duursma has been designed a running pattern that delivers large GPS numbers for limited disposals.
It is almost a graveyard role. He runs away from the contest, taking his opponent with him, to open up a channel for the likes of – you guessed it – Butters and Rozee to strut their stuff.
Bombers players are familiar with the tactic. They say under former coach Ben Rutten they had a similar role … but it was one nobody really wanted to do.
Under new coach Brad Scott, Duursma would be restored to a traditional wing position. Those saying he is chasing midfield minutes are off the mark.
This boy wants to play on a wing, because that is where his weapons can be used.
But he wants a traditional wing role, where he can run up and down the tram tracks and stay in the game. He would be a link man at the Bombers rather than a space invader.
The Bombers think they can develop Duursma into a decent footballer, and it is a move that simply makes sense for all involved.
Port trade latest: Will handing over Duursma get Power Esava?
- Matt Turner and Jay Clark
Port Adelaide remains hopeful it can still bring in all four of its trade targets in the closing days of the trade period.
The Power expects to complete deals for Essendon key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Western Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet before the swap window ends on Wednesday night, but moves for Geelong backman Esava Ratugolea and Richmond’s Ivan Soldo may go down to the wire.
Essendon is keen to welcome wingman Xavier Duursma as part of a straight swap for Zerk-Thatcher.
Port may demand a future draft pick or a 2023 selection from the Bombers in the deal to help bolster its bid for Ratugolea.
The Cats have rejected the Power’s first offer of pick 24 as part of a brief conversation that threatens to test the patience of list bosses at both clubs.
Geelong has made it clear it wants a selection in the first round or emerging forward Ollie Lord, who Port is hellbent on keeping.
The Power had a 2024 first-rounder but traded it for pick 23 and a future second-rounder from Fremantle last week, adamant the out-of-contract Cat was not worth a first on his own.
If a deal for Ratugolea was not agreed, the 25-year-old would walk to the pre-season draft.
That is risky for Port because Hawthorn, which has been in the market for a tall defender, has a selection before the Power’s pick.
Ruckman Scott Lycett is expected to play on, but his future at the club hinges on whether Sweet and Soldo both arrive at Alberton or just one of them.
The Tigers want to keep Soldo, who has a year to run on his contract, while Port believes he is very keen to join it for more opportunities at AFL level.
Soldo, 27, has played 21 matches over the past two seasons and been behind co-captain Toby Nankervis in the pecking order.
Richmond held onto Soldo last year despite his push to join GWS and convinced him to stay in 2021 when the Bulldogs tried to lure him.
The Power is making progress on a trade with the Bulldogs for out-of-contract South Australian Sweet.
A third-round pick might seal the deal.
Melbourne has offered a future second-round selection for wantaway Adelaide forward Shane McAdam.
The Crows have been determined to receive a player as part of the trade, zeroing in on SA swingman Harrison Petty, but the Demons plan to keep him.
Meanwhile, Glenelg premiership defender Toby Pink has officially joined North Melbourne as a delisted free agent.
Pink, 25, was on Sydney’s list from 2017-19, having been drafted as a key forward, and was axed without playing a game.
In 2023, Pink was one of the SANFL’s best key defenders, earning selection in The Advertiser Team of the Year and helping the Tigers win the flag.
North Melbourne head of football talent Brady Rawlings said the 194cm backman had earnt his second opportunity.
Originally published as Port Adelaide trade news: How did Xavier Duursma go from third star musketeer to being traded in the space of five years?
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