Past #24: Sam Durdin - delisted after 21 NM games/1 NM goal - thanks Durds (drafted by Carlton in '22 MSD)

[LuvtheKangas]

Even experienced players fumble. Hunter may seem better under the pump

Not for the last two or three years he hasn't.

 

[Woodson]

Not for the last two or three years he hasn't.

And you realise you didn't complete my full quote… you should consider getting a job in the media.

And I did say 'seem' .. not the worst defender out there by a long stretch. Plenty around here willing to throw Hunter under a bus.

Consider that he plays for a team which doesn't posses a TWO-WAY running midfield which makes his job twice as hard. I like the mongrel in him.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

And you realise you didn't complete my full quote… you should consider getting a job in the media.

And I did say 'seem' .. not the worst defender out there by a long stretch. Plenty around here willing to throw Hunter under a bus.

Consider that he plays for a team which doesn't posses a TWO-WAY running midfield which makes his job twice as hard. I like the mongrel in him.

I only quoted the bit that I disagreed with, it wasn't out of context because the rest of the post was unrelated to the point.

Hunter has been absolute rubbish under the pump of late, he hasn't "seemed" better than anyone else we've had there (except perhaps Jacobs, who would have been delisted if his only spot was defense).

Frankly, I think Thompson has been our worst tall defender by a long stretch, for quite some time now. What you call mongrel, I call petty niggling and I see no value in it at all.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Hope he plays this week but knowing Brad he'll be out. Would be great for him to experience a big crowd game, same for Simpkin and other young guys.

 

[kangaspurs]

I was out, so I haven't seen the game and I can't bring myself to watch a replay other the gr's goal video. But looking at the stats it doesn't seem as if Cameron or Lobbe (I assume he was playing on one of those guys) had a massive influence on the game.

Disappointing to hear about the fumbles, but we watch Thompson scrounge and * up on a regular basis these days. I expect he'll be dropped for Thompson as that's just the way that Scott does things, but I hope he stays in. It's far better for our long term prospects to get games into him, even if he is making errors, than to persist with Thompson who gives us nothing in the here and now and less than nothing in the future.

 

[Woodson]

Frankly, I think Thompson has been our worst tall defender by a long stretch, for quite some time now. What you call mongrel, I call petty niggling and I see no value in it at all.

As you already know, accidental collisions = suspensions. << The real mongrel seldom shows up in today's game. The game we grew up with has morphed itself into a rapid quick game of rebound and sweeping uncontested possessions. To have loose fwd players push up into the middle doesn't hurt us. Tactically the niggling which is bothersome to Hunter's direct opponent who gets himself out of the position that HUNTER wants to guard. I have no problem as it breaks down their structure. If the midfield doesn't do their job of applying pressure to the incoming fwd delivery, Hunter will be found out with his sluggish speed. Uh duh.

That's where the value is.. nagging the opposition relentlessly because North don't have the cavalry to play both ways over four quarters consistently.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Really? I see zero evidence that the petty niggling by Thompson has the effect of breaking down structures.

And his uh duh sluggish speed is fatal when added to his fumbling ground balls, dropping marks, giving stupid frees and inability to hold position one on one.

Years ago, he didn't have many of these weaknesses. Now he has them all.

 

[Heaps of fun]

I was out, so I haven't seen the game and I can't bring myself to watch a replay other the gr's goal video. But looking at the stats it doesn't seem as if Cameron or Lobbe (I assume he was playing on one of those guys) had a massive influence on the game.

Disappointing to hear about the fumbles, but we watch Thompson scrounge and **** up on a regular basis these days. I expect he'll be dropped for Thompson as that's just the way that Scott does things, but I hope he stays in. It's far better for our long term prospects to get games into him, even if he is making errors, than to persist with Thompson who gives us nothing in the here and now and less than nothing in the future.

Played on Lobb.

 

[giantroo]

Two years for Durds.




Key-defender Sam Durdin’s impressive start to his make-or-break 2017 season has earned him a two-year contract extension at North Melbourne.

Durdin, pick No.16 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, told AFL.com.au he was under no illusions his career was on the line ahead of his third season at Arden Street, when he was due to come out of contract.

"My first two years weren't overly great in terms of progression, but Brad (Scott) and I had a fairly honest chat in our exit meeting at the end of last year and just spoke about how important it was to get in the right shape for the 2017 season," Durdin said.

"After that meeting I stayed in Melbourne over the off-season and worked with Ben Cunnington and our running coach. We just all stuck together and got a fair bit done, so I was able to come back in pretty good shape and have a good pre-season."

Over the two-month off-season, Durdin trained three to four times a week with Cunnington, completing morning running sessions that ensured he reported for the start of pre-season training in November with a significantly improved aerobic base.

Despite missing the rare chance to spend time with family and friends at home in South Australia, Durdin knew he had to put his football career first.

"When your career is almost on the line you want to do anything you can to put the right foot forward," Durdin said.

"It was a fairly easy decision as soon as Brad had an honest chat with me and said he expected more from me.

"I had no hesitation in staying and trying to get the most out of myself. It was the last year of my contract and I hadn't played a game yet, so it was fairly important to start the season well.

"I had to get a few games under my belt and just prove to Brad and the coaching staff why I should still be on the North Melbourne list."

Durdin's improved fitness stood out in the Roos' match simulation over summer and earned him his first game in North colours in the JLT Community Series – he played the opening two games, against Sydney and Hawthorn – and, ultimately, his AFL debut in round three against Greater Western Sydney.

Apart from some shaky moments early, the 20-year-old showed encouraging signs against the Giants, finishing with 10 possessions, one contested mark, three rebound 50s and four one-percenters.

"I found it a much higher level from any type of footy I've played before in my life, especially the first half, just trying to adapt to the pace of the game and the bigger bodies took a bit to get used to," Durdin said.

"But after that you get more comfortable and feel more involved in the game, so I took a fair bit out of it."

Durdin received his senior call-up after Scott Thompson was suspended for one week and the veteran defender replaced him in North’s round four team.

Durdin wasn't "overly disappointed" to be dropped after one game, having received a largely positive review from North’s coaching team.

He also knows he will be given every chance to break back into North's team this year and to cement a senior spot over the next two-and-a-half seasons, as the club continues the list regeneration it started at the end of last season.

The opportunity at North and its exciting mix of experience and emerging young talent ensured Durdin had "no hesitation" recommitting until the end of 2019.

His challenge now is to string together a consistent stretch of form that North’s selectors cannot ignore.

"Scotty pulled me aside after my debut and said, 'Keep going in the VFL, keep your form up, play some good consistent footy and your opportunity will come'," Durdin said.

"I'm just trying to do everything I can in the meantime to make sure I'm ready when my next opportunity comes."

 

[Ahern2Boof]

Onya Durds.

 

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

Excellent news! Would have been some interest considering he's not getting regular game time. Which he will soon.

 

[Shermanator]

Put him in this week at CHB and throw Lachie Forward??

 

[nelroo]

Should be playing seniors to fast track our rebuild..however, might not hurt him long term to actually have to break down the door.

 

[longyroos]

Great stuff

 

[nelroo]

Put him in this week at CHB and throw Lachie Forward??

Don't mind this at all. In Durds and Garner.

 

[the big lebowski]

Great news. Him not getting games is my most annoying annoyance this year. But I guess Thompson and Hansen have been unexpectedly good in the whole.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Was genuinely worried he may head back to SA.
This is great.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

Great news, confirming again that our kids have the right attitude and aren't as needy as some of us think.

I don't know if I knew that Ben 10 also stayed back to do fitness homework over the break, but either way it's good to see players of all ages taking feedback seriously - would have been good for Durds to see Ben there doing extra too.

 

[boneofshin]

Nice to hear that Brad delivered some hard truths in the exit interview last year. It seems to be paying off.

 

[Donkey Chop]

Good signing. I was worried he'd look for opportunities elsewhere.

 

[RobZombie]

Good signing. I was worried he'd look for opportunities elsewhere.

I was thinking that despite their tool of a CEO's protestations about our list, GWS are a bit light on for key defenders.

You'd have to think this takes him off the trade table, which pleases me greatly. Onya Durds.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Fantastic news. Big blokes take time and he now has that on his side. Make every post a winner Durds!

 

[roojor]

Has a lot of upside and will be a regular hey brad stop bullying the younger players into signing new contracts.

That saints supporter should be sued.

 

[Arathrawn]

Have to admit our player retention is fantastic under Scott. Losing Levi wasn't that big a deal imo, if he was still here Dumont wouldn't be developing like he is.

Congrats to Durdin. 2 more years at the greatest club in the land, time to demand your spot with performances.

 

[Benj7]

Have to admit our player retention is fantastic under Scott. Losing Levi wasn't that big a deal imo, if he was still here Dumont wouldn't be developing like he is.

Congrats to Durdin. 2 more years at the greatest club in the land, time to demand your spot with performances.

100% might be cliché but this club is a family.