Off the back of a gruelling pre-season camp and productive Christmas break, Xavier Duursma has hit the ground running in 2023. Image: Michael Sullivan.

MIDFIELDER Xavier Duursma has started pre-season with a bang, revealing he feels the fittest he has in years.

The 22-year-old has experienced injury and form setbacks over the past two seasons but is intent on taking his game to the next level in 2023.

Duursma on pre-season so far:

“It's been a solid hit-out so far. We've had a fair chunk of work in the last couple of weeks since we've come back so it's been good. I've been working pretty hard and I'm pretty happy with where I’m at so far and I’ll just keep working towards my goals.”

Duursma on past setbacks:

“Definitely aerially, I wasn’t confident at all with my knee, with my shoulder… I wasn’t confident to be able to jump, if I'm being honest. Fitness as well, I was nowhere near as fit as I am now. I’m feeling really good about (my game) now.

“It's been a challenging couple of years and I’ve learned a lot about myself but I think at the same time, I think this is building towards a really good year (for me). That’s what I’m hoping for and working toward on the track.”

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Xavier Duursma press conference - 20 January 2023 | PTV

Xavier Duursma speaks to the media at Alberton Oval.

Duursma on building his confidence:

“I went away in the off-season and worked pretty hard on, number one, being healthy, and then working really hard about getting my routine right, finding out what works for me, what doesn’t, what should I keep in my routine, what should I put out. Getting back to my actual strengths and understanding what they are and including them on the training track is really giving me some confidence in myself right now.

“(I worked on) a fair bit of this by myself, but there were also times where I did work with Dave our mindset coach and Amanda, who is our club psychologist.

“(I did) a little bit of looking at old vision and I had some good chats with my dad in the off-season. He’s a pretty wise footy mind, he definitely knows what he’s talking about, so I like to listen to him.”

After a challenging couple of years, Xavier Duursma has his eyes on solidifying his spot on field. Image: Isabel Gawel.

Duursma on fellow 2018 draftees Zak Butters and Connor Rozee:

“I love seeing Buttsy and Rozee taking the next step and you can see out there on the training track, they’re going at another level now. They’re amazing. It’s awesome to get to play with them and watch them train. Now I want to take that step as well. It’s my turn now to get to that point and I feel like so far, I’m taking steps in the right direction.”

Duursma on draftee Tom Scully:

“He’s got a really good jump and he times it pretty well too. I think that’s a big thing for young forwards, is that timing. They can sometimes run underneath or go too early but from everything I’ve seen so far he really jumps at it at the right time and he’s got strong hands. It’s a really good start for him so fingers crossed he can keep doing it.”

Duursma on the bow-and-arrow celebration in 2023:

“Yep, it will stay.”