‘Can’t escape your fortunes’: Caution for wantaway young gun Zane Duursma amid Dees’ trade offer

Trade-seeking North Melbourne young gun Zane Duursma has been warned that a move to Melbourne this trade period won’t “change his fortunes”, despite his considerable talent.

AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich reported on Tuesday afternoon that Melbourne has tabled three options in its bid to prise the third-year forward out of North Melbourne, but none are believed to be enough to satisfy the Kangaroos at this stage.

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Those options are Pick 47 in the 2026 draft, a future second-round pick in 2027, or a future second-round pick in 2028.

The third-year Kangaroo, taken with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 AFL Draft, requested a trade on September 8, after the club offered him a deal to stay in early July.

Despite North’s newly-appointed coach Jaymie Graham speaking to Duursma within hours of officially starting at Arden Street, there seems to be little hope of the 21-year-old staying.

“I would say there’s no chance of him staying. They sort of understand and realise that,” senior Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“Mind you, there’s more than a stalemate ... those (options) don’t get any deal done.”

Graham takes reins at North | 01:49

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna added: “Everyone knows the talent’s there, we just haven’t really seen it put together in too many games of AFL footy.

“It’s going to be interesting to see where this one lands, because Melbourne are starting with a really low bar with what they want to give it ... it looks like he’s adamant he wants to leave.”

Duursma has played between 10 and 15 games in each of his three years at the Roos, having battled to maintain his spot in the senior side for extended periods.

“He’s a very good player when he gets ‘the perfect match-up’, and the ball’s coming in with 60 inside 50s. But, he played on Brandon Starcevich — who might be the best stopper in the league — and he completely destroyed him,” Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph said.

“I think we all agree he’s going to the Melbourne Football Club, but is it going to be any easier there? Did he ever get rock-hard fit as that number four draft pick? Did he leave no stone unturned across the pre-seasons?

“You can’t escape your fortunes. At some stage there, you need to be the player who’s the fittest at this football club — because you’re a 190cm mid-sized forward. It’s never going to be on your terms, you’ve got to absolutely work your arse off to play great football.

Jaymie Graham speaks as new Norths coach | 21:53

Montagna added: “Spot on, I hope he doesn’t think that changing his jumper is going to change his fortunes. He needs to make his own career with his workrate, and increase that ... it’s the hard work first to give himself a chance.”

North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings said the club was still hoping to hold Duursma and Josh Goater, who has requested a move to Hawthorn.

“Depends on what Melbourne wants to put forward to us. We absolutely love Zane,” Rawlings told reporters on Monday at Marvel Stadium.

“We value him really highly. We still think we can talk him around. There’s no bad blood here.”