AFLW: Yasmin Duursma aiming for breakout year in Power as footy family grows in numbers

September will see the Duursma siblings in teal, white and black as Xavier and Yasmin hit the AFL finals and the start of the AFLW season.

Duursma siblings art 17 aug

Two are already in the AFL and AFLW, another is set to be a high draft pick come the end of the year and watch out for the other one in store.

Whatever is happening at the Duursma’s household it is definitely working.

Xavier was taken at pick No. 18 by Port Adelaide in 2018 and is one of the key young players at the Power.

Yasmin is in the Power’s AFLW side and is hoping to have a breakout year in 2023.

Zane will be drafted later this year and is currently being spoken as a top-five prospect.

Willem caught the eye during the Under 16 national champs for Vic Country, getting named All-Australian, and will be one to track over the next two years.

So what is happening in the Duursma household?

“Strict parents, that’s all I can say,” Yasmin said.

“Mum (Susie) does push us pretty hard, both mum and dad (Dean) and I guess it helps already having dad in the footy space, as well as my uncle (Jamie) so it is good to have a footy family.

“Dad and Xavier have played a big role in my footy career so far.”

Yasmin Duursma plays for Port Adelaide’s AFLW team. Picture: Matt Loxton

It means there is a lot of knowledge that can be imparted from sibling to sibling.

“Xavier has just said to me about enjoying my footy, not putting too much pressure on myself and a bit of education here and there because we do play the same position,” she said.

“But mainly about just enjoying the experience.

“Definitely it is a bit of knowledge that we pass onto him (Zane), just to enjoy it because it only happens once.

“I think he is pretty excited, he is keen for it to all start happening. He is on cloud nine at the moment.”

Yasmin is pretty excited herself ahead of her second season at the Power.

Because of Year 12 studies she only managed the four games in the Power’s debut season in the AFLW.

This pre-season she has been able to focus a lot more on footy.

“I just like to keep getting better, play more games than last year and now that I don’t have Year 12 interrupting it I can stay here the whole year which I’m really excited about and getting those games in my legs,” she said.

“It has given me a lot more time to focus on footy this year, I still have uni but it is definitely not as full on as a year 12 load so it has been a bit of a relief.”

Duursma is hoping for a breakout year in the Power team. Picture: Matt Loxton

While she has battled shin splints this pre-season, Yasmin was in the Power’s side for match simulation against GWS last week and is in the squad for Friday night’s practise match against St Kilda at Alberton.

With a game style similar to the one the Power play in the AFL, Yasmin said she was excited about what the side could do this season.

“Hopefully we see some hard work pay off this season,” she said.

“I think we have a bit more confidence now.”

The clash starts at 7.10pm and will be free to attend.

It will be the first night fixture at Alberton since the installation of the new light towers.

The game will be streamed online on Port Adelaide’s website.

Originally published as AFLW: Yasmin Duursma aiming for breakout year in Power as footy family grows in numbers