GIPPSLAND Power star Zane Duursma is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week for Round 15, after slotting a season-high six goals in his side’s win over Bendigo on Saturday. He edged out Vic Country teammate George Stevens in this week’s poll, who amassed 36 touches as GWV beat Northern.

Duursma has had a terrific run of form at Talent League level, more recently reverting back to a more natural forward post and finding great success over the last fortnight. He is yet to be held goalless across eight games and boasts a total of 21 majors.

The 189cm midfielder-forward also capped off his Under 18 National Championships on a high note with four goals against Vic Metro, and has earned berths at VFL level with Casey Demons. An AFL Academy member, he has long been touted as a top 10 prospect for this year’s draft.

Last weekend, the youngest member of the Duursma clan – Willem – joined Zane in Gippsland’s Under 18 side. Both boys will look to join elder siblings Xavier and Yasmin at the top level, perhaps even alongside them at Port Adelaide.

Duursma is the only Power player to have earned Player of the Week honours this season, but becomes the fifth Country-based prospect to do so and the seventh top-ager. His nomination breaks a three-week streak of bottom-agers taking out the award.

Around the grounds, a couple of 2024-eligible talents stole the show as Eastern downed Oakleigh. Round 14 Player of the Week Christian Moraes matched Jagga Smith‘s haul of 30 disposals, which was also hit by Melbourne father-son candidate Kynan Brown.

Stevens had stiff competition in the Rebels’ win over Northern. Knights midfielder Kristian Ferronato accumulated 35 disposals, eight marks and seven inside 50s in a losing side, while Round 11 nominee Nate Caddy booted four goals in the losing effort – as did GWV bottom-ager Rhys Unwin.

The weekend’s biggest disposal haul was notched up by Calder Cannons on-baller Mahmoud Taha, who had 37 upon his return from the VFL. In the Cannons’ one-point loss, Isaac Kako (four goals) and Jordan Croft hit the scoreboard, while Murray’s Darcy Wilson (35 disposals, one goal) was again outstanding.

2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Indhi Kirk (Swans Academy)
Round 2: Tom Anastasopoulos (Geelong Falcons)
Round 3: Nick Watson (Eastern Ranges)
Round 4: Joel Freijah (GWV Rebels)
Round 5: N/A
Round 6: Jed Walter (Suns Academy)
Round 7: Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils)
Round 8: Zak Johnson (Northern Knights)
Round 9: Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 10: N/A
Round 11: Nate Caddy (Northern Knights)
Round 12: Murphy Reid (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 13: Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 14: Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges)