Xavier Duursma Slams Growing Pressure on Struggling Teen Harley Reid, Calling it ‘Remarkably Unfair’

Essendon wingman Xavier Duursma has come out in support of Harley Reid, describing the scrutiny faced by the West Coast young gun as “rather unfair.”

The 19-year-old has been under intense scrutiny this season, both for his on-field actions and the ongoing speculation surrounding his contract situation.

Duursma’s sister Yasmin, who plays for Carlton in the AFLW, is currently in a relationship with Reid, allowing the pair to connect beyond football.

Duursma acknowledges that such scrutiny is part of the sport, but believes Reid is being held to excessively high expectations.

“The pressure that comes from being immensely talented and highly regarded like Harley is significant,” Duursma told 3AW.

“Yet, concurrently, I feel some of the comments directed at him and his actions are quite unfair.

“He’s just a 19-year-old learning his way through the sport, and he’s destined to become a star in this league. Expecting incredibly high standards from a teenager is challenging, and while he sets high standards for himself as both a person and player, I still believe there has been some unfair criticism directed at him.

“Nonetheless, that is part of the role—we must find ways to ignore it and focus on our responsibilities.”

The Duursma family boasts a strong representation in the AFL, with Xavier at Essendon, Yasmin at Carlton, and Zane at North Melbourne. The youngest brother, Willem, is already being tipped as a potential first-round pick in the upcoming 2025 national draft.

As the Bombers prepare to face the Eagles this Friday night, Xavier is eager to see which side Yasmin will support, hoping it’s the one featuring her brother.

“I’ll need to check in with her about who she’ll be cheering for. I really hope it’s her brother, but we’ll soon find out,” he remarked.

“She’ll be there regardless, so she might end up with an Eagles scarf and a Bombers jumper—who knows?”