AFL players wear their country heritage like a badge of honour, says Essendon winger

Essendon winger Xavier Duursma says growing up in the country builds grit and character in AFL players, who often carry a deep sense of pride in where they hail from.

Now 24, and having played 100 games in the AFL, Duursma said one of his best footy memories is still when he was 15 and got to run…