West Coast Eagles draftees Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler and Josh Lindsay will make their AFL debuts in round one alongside mature-age bolter Milan Murdock.
Just two weeks after joining the squad, Murdock’s years of perseverance in the WAFL have paid off with selection against Gold Coast.
Victorian trio Duursma, Duff-Tytler and Lindsay were prized first-round selections at last year’s national draft and will debut together in an exciting start to their careers out west.
No.1 draft pick Duursma’s first game has been highly anticipated after excelling on a wing through the pre-season period.
“I feel really good, it’s going to be a big challenge,” Duursma said.
“They (Gold Coast) are a really good team, and for us as a young team, we are just going to go and compete as hard as we can, and I just can’t wait to play my first game with the boys.”
Duff-Tytler stood tall in the pre-season matches, with the 200cm forward-ruck’s rare combination of size, speed and strong hands showing glimpses of the pick No.4’s exciting potential.
“I was pretty nervous, I knew team selection was going to be today, and I really wanted my name to get read out,” Duff-Tytler said.
“For ‘Flynny’ (Matt Flynn), who has mentored me since I got here, to tell me out on the track that I’d been picked was pretty surreal.
“I’m just so pumped to get over to Gold Coast with the boys this weekend.”
Lindsay will also be suiting up against the Suns after impressing with his elite left-foot kicking and professionalism after being drafted with pick 19.
“I’m stoked. It’s a dream come true and something I’ve always wanted,” Lindsay said.
“To share it with some of my best mates, I’m just so happy and can’t wait to get out there.”
WAFL standout Murdock, 25, averaged 27.4 disposals and 7.8 tackles in 2025 for East Fremantle and will bring experience and energy to the line-up.
“I’m just so happy to be a part of West Coast, it’s just been awesome coming in the last two weeks, the boys have been so welcoming,” Murdock said.
“The training standards are so high, I just love these boys already and I’ve only been here for two weeks.
“I’m just over the moon. It’s a dream come true and I can’t wait to represent this club.”
