LIFE can be tough for a young footballer. New club, new teammates and often a new city in a new state.
Port Adelaide young gun Xavier Duursma adapted to life as an AFL player better than most, playing 20 senior games in his first year on the list, but the coronavirus outbreak has thrown up a new challenge for him to overcome in just his second season.
The Gippsland product made the quick move to return home to be with family after learning of the impending border restrictions just hours after landing back in Adelaide after Port’s round 1 win over the Gold Coast.
He spent a fortnight living in his parent’s caravan in their backyard and eating dinner on the opposite side of the backyard for company, but the 19-year-old has tried his best to maintain his routine.
“I couldn’t really take much from the club unfortunately because I had to leave straight away to get back across the border before they started locking it down,” he told Adelaide radio on Thursday morning.
“I was able to get together a makeshift gym from the school – my dad is a school teacher – so was able to go in and use some of equipment and bring it back home.
“It’s been reasonably good. The only negative is that it is in pounds because it’s pretty old, but it’s not too bad, I am still able to convert it (to kilos).
“It’s still something to lift and shift so I’m not complaining.”
The endurance machine has been coping with the uncertainty surrounding the suspension of the 2020 AFL season by leaning on some of the pre-season programs Port Adelaide has engaged with.
Port have been working with Hugh van Cuylenburg of the Resilience Project to help build the playing group’s connection and strength in the face of adversity.
“Hugh’s been working with us for nearly two years now and has been a really positive impact for our whole group,” Duursma said.
“He’s been able to open our minds and hearts to each other and bring a better connection to our playing group, and also our coaches and staff around the club.
“Great organisations are the ones that win premierships and we are trying to build that.
“For us as players, he’s been able to get us to open ourselves to each other and tell stories and personal things that not many people would tell to each other, which has been able to motivate us to play for more than ourselves.”
The 18th pick in 2018 draft admitted he was still unsure when football would return, but was hopeful of some clarity to unfold in the near future.
“They’re having some meetings on April 27th so we will know a bit clearer from there,” Duursma said.
“I originally said I think we’ll be playing footy about July and I still think it would be around then.”
Duursma also said he would be open to the concept of ‘AFL Hubs’ that has been thrown around in recent weeks as long as it was safe to do so.
“I want to play footy so I’m supportive of anything that will let us play,” he said.
“We just need to make sure it is safe and everyone involved is ok with it.
All of that (medical advice) will need to be taken into account, but if that is the best way to do it I am sure everyone will be happy (to play).”
