Willem Duursma is embracing the pressure and expectation of being West Coast's prized No.1 draft pick, older brother Xavier says.
But the talented teenager has found his first AFL pre-season "pretty brutal" as he makes the transition from underage football to training in professional ranks.
Willem, the fourth Duursma to be on an AFL or AFLW list, has settled into Perth life by staying with West Coast's other No.1 draft pick, Harley Reid.
"It's a massive tag to carry, but he's a very confident young man, and I think he's going to really embrace the challenge," Bombers wingman Xavier said of the expectations on his younger sibling.
"I know that he's got a really good support network over there around him; Harley Reid, he's pretty close with him.
"The Eagles, from everything I've heard and everything he's said to me, they've done really well so far looking after him.
"I always throw arm around him, except when I'm playing him and I'm going to try smack him in the back of the head."
Growing up in the Gippsland town of Foster in regional Victoria, Willem has been thrown straight into pre-season of a scorching Perth summer.
"I speak to him every day, and he's enjoying the hot weather over there," Xavier said.
"It's been pretty brutal over there.
"But he's going well, enjoying it, and it's been a bit of an eye-opener for him.
"You obviously go from under underage football and you work hard, but coming up to the elite, pro level is a big jump as well.
"He's been able to handle it so far, which is great, but at the same time, it's a big jump, and every 18-year-old kid has to have that bit of a realisation."
Willem, a talented utility, has been flagged to play on the wing, like Xavier, early in his career at the Eagles.
"I'd love to go out there and find him, hopefully give him his welcome to the AFL moment," Xavier quipped when asked about the possibility of playing on each other.
West Coast's first game of the season is on the Gold Coast on March 15 when they face the Suns.
