Former Gippsland Power captain Xavier Duursma was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star award following a standout performance for Port Adelaide in Round 6.

The 186cm 18-year-old recorded 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, eight marks and one goal in the AFL Power’s 16-point defeat of North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

 

Duursma was selected by Port Adelaide with pick no.18 at the 2018 NAB AFL Draft after playing 13 Victorian U18 Boys games that season and helping to lead Gippsland to second place on the ladder after the home-and-away rounds. He also made four appearances for Vic Country at the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

The Foster (Alberton FNL) played 33 games across three Victorian U18 Boys seasons, becoming known for his speed, courage and skill with ball in hand while playing as a running defender/midfielder.

Duursma made his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2019 season and has played all six matches so far, averaging 18 disposals and five marks per game.

He joins Geelong’s Charlie Constable (ex-Sandringham Dragons), Carlton’s Sam Walsh (Geelong Falcons) and West Coast’s Jack Petruccelle (Northern Knights) as former Victorian U18 Boys players to be nominated for the AFL Rising Star award in 2019.