You don’t take a kid at Pick 1 to ease him in through the twos. West Coast need Willem Duursma yesterday, and everything we’re hearing out of Mineral Resources Park confirms it — he’s been training as a starter since day one of preseason.

The Profile

Inside mid, 183cm, ferocious at the contest. Brother Xavier’s at Essendon, Zane’s at North. The Duursma family doesn’t produce quiet footballers. Willem’s the best of the lot — he was head and shoulders above every other kid at the combine and dominated the NAB League for Gippsland Power in a way that had recruiters texting each other mid-game.

The size question comes up every time. At 183cm he’s giving up centimetres to most AFL mids. Doesn’t matter. His attack on the ball is borderline violent. Contested possessions, clearances, tackles — the three pillars of SuperCoach scoring — are his entire game.

Role & Opportunity

West Coast’s midfield is a blank canvas. They’ve spent three years stripping it back, and Duursma walks into the most opportunity any number one pick has had in years. He’s not fighting for the fourth CBA spot — he’s the centrepiece.

From what we’ve seen at Eagles training, they’re already building stoppages around him. He’s getting first-choice centre-bounce time alongside Tim Kelly, which is remarkable for a kid who hasn’t played a senior game yet. The club sees him as their Brownlow medallist. That’s not hyperbole — that’s literally the language being used internally.

Number one picks at rebuilding clubs historically average 15-20 games in year one. Duursma will play more than that. Barring injury, he’s best-22 for the full season.

SuperCoach Verdict

Non-negotiable. This isn’t a “should I pick him?” conversation. Duursma at $113,500 is the closest thing to free money SuperCoach offers. Even averaging a modest 50, the cash generation from basement price is enormous. If he hits 60+ — and he might — he’ll be the single best value pick in the competition.

M7 or M8. Done. Next question.

Betting Angle

Debut markets will be juicy. First-game disposal lines for number one picks tend to sit conservative — bookies price in nerves, but kids this talented usually come out swinging. If you see a disposal line under 15.5 for Round 1, that’s interesting. The Eagles will funnel the ball through him just to settle his nerves.

Gamble responsibly. 18+ only.