This is Knightmare's evaluation of Durdin
7. Sam Durdin (SA – KPD/KPF)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Draft range: 2-10
Best position/role: Centre half back
Strengths:
Versatility – Plays both forward and back to a high standard. He can also pinch-hit through the ruck as required.
Strong overhead mark – Durdin marks at the highest point and has long arms making him incredibly hard to defend when played in the front half. Durdin is most threatening with his ability to mark the ball in the air and can just launch at the ball, elevate and take it one grab. He is capable of taking a pack marks. He can take front position and protect the drop zone well for the easy mark but is not so strong 1v1 that he will take advantage of his direct opponents frequently either forward or back.
Ability to read the flight of the ball – Durdin reads the flight well and uses this ability well both up forward and down back. As a forward this increases the threat of him taking his marks in the air because he knows before he jumps where the ball will land, he also uses this ability to protect the drop zone for easy marks. Down back because of how well he reads the flight of the ball and how well he reads the play he understands when he can leave his opponent for an easy intercept mark. He is also excellent getting the spoil in thanks to his ability to read the flight and is aided by his long arms. Athleticism/mobility –Durdin moves incredibly well for a tall and has excellent mobility and agility to him and moves really fluidly around the ground. He also has good leaping ability which he uses to effect with his marking ability in the air. With his leaping ability and long arms he also has the scope to play some relief ruck minutes as required. He also has the pace to create separation on the lead and the closing speed to shut down an opponent’s lead in the back half.
Ground level ability – Durdin has good co-ordination below the knees and can pick up the ground ball and bouncing ball cleanly. He is also willing to at ground level give a contest and give the second and third efforts and tackle with good intent for a tall.
Good ball user - Durdin is a clean, efficient ball user and you can rely on him to hit his targets around the ground. He demonstrates good vision and has shown that out of the back half he can find and hit some meaningful targets up the ground.
Hard edge – Durdin in the games I have seen of him has shown a real hard edge to him. He will bury guys with force with his tackles and will stand up to contact and not let anyone intimidate him and stand his ground which has impressed me.
Weaknesses:
Ability on the lead – Durdin is not yet overly natural on the lead as a forward and will need to put the work in on his leading patterns and learn when and where to lead.
Production – This year Durdin has not put forward the numbers anticipated coming into the season. He seems to have struggled due to a hand injury and has not had the preparation he would have liked coming into the season which is the primary reason in my view for his below expectation performances. He put forward some lean performances through the U18 champs and has done the same this year back in SA, though showing better form late season.
Leading patterns as a forward – Durdin due mostly to being unaccustomed to playing forward has when given the chance up forward looked at times lost with his leading patterns particularly a work in progress not knowing where or when to lead to be a target up the field and as a result at this stage looks better suited behind the ball with reading the ball from behind the play more what he is suited to and accustomed to at this point in time.
What I expect will improve:
I expect Durdin increases his production and if played forward I anticipate with good coaching improves his leading patterns. If he can get his improvement tracking in the right direction again next year I feel he can over time start to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and with time develop into a dominant key position player at either end.
Who he can become?
Durdin projects to become a similar level talent to Jake Carlisle as that tall, mobile type who can play forward or back well.
When will he be ready to play?
The first couple of seasons we will see glimpses but it will be season three that I anticipate that he will start putting some strong performances together and season four when he establishes himself as a high level key position player.
How to best utilise him?
Durdin has key forward talent and the right mix of attributes to experience strong success as a key forward if he fixes up his leading patterns but at this stage Durdin is best suited as a key defender and is a safer bet to become a high level key defender.
Interpretation of his numbers:
He has struggled to get his hands on the footy this year both when played forward and back. His numbers due to his hand injury have been poor this season so Durdin is someone you draft based on his 2012 performance and the mix of attributes he shows in game and how that mix of attributes can translate at the next level and come together over time.
7. Sam Durdin (SA – KPD/KPF)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Draft range: 2-10
Best position/role: Centre half back
Strengths:
Versatility – Plays both forward and back to a high standard. He can also pinch-hit through the ruck as required.
Strong overhead mark – Durdin marks at the highest point and has long arms making him incredibly hard to defend when played in the front half. Durdin is most threatening with his ability to mark the ball in the air and can just launch at the ball, elevate and take it one grab. He is capable of taking a pack marks. He can take front position and protect the drop zone well for the easy mark but is not so strong 1v1 that he will take advantage of his direct opponents frequently either forward or back.
Ability to read the flight of the ball – Durdin reads the flight well and uses this ability well both up forward and down back. As a forward this increases the threat of him taking his marks in the air because he knows before he jumps where the ball will land, he also uses this ability to protect the drop zone for easy marks. Down back because of how well he reads the flight of the ball and how well he reads the play he understands when he can leave his opponent for an easy intercept mark. He is also excellent getting the spoil in thanks to his ability to read the flight and is aided by his long arms. Athleticism/mobility –Durdin moves incredibly well for a tall and has excellent mobility and agility to him and moves really fluidly around the ground. He also has good leaping ability which he uses to effect with his marking ability in the air. With his leaping ability and long arms he also has the scope to play some relief ruck minutes as required. He also has the pace to create separation on the lead and the closing speed to shut down an opponent’s lead in the back half.
Ground level ability – Durdin has good co-ordination below the knees and can pick up the ground ball and bouncing ball cleanly. He is also willing to at ground level give a contest and give the second and third efforts and tackle with good intent for a tall.
Good ball user - Durdin is a clean, efficient ball user and you can rely on him to hit his targets around the ground. He demonstrates good vision and has shown that out of the back half he can find and hit some meaningful targets up the ground.
Hard edge – Durdin in the games I have seen of him has shown a real hard edge to him. He will bury guys with force with his tackles and will stand up to contact and not let anyone intimidate him and stand his ground which has impressed me.
Weaknesses:
Ability on the lead – Durdin is not yet overly natural on the lead as a forward and will need to put the work in on his leading patterns and learn when and where to lead.
Production – This year Durdin has not put forward the numbers anticipated coming into the season. He seems to have struggled due to a hand injury and has not had the preparation he would have liked coming into the season which is the primary reason in my view for his below expectation performances. He put forward some lean performances through the U18 champs and has done the same this year back in SA, though showing better form late season.
Leading patterns as a forward – Durdin due mostly to being unaccustomed to playing forward has when given the chance up forward looked at times lost with his leading patterns particularly a work in progress not knowing where or when to lead to be a target up the field and as a result at this stage looks better suited behind the ball with reading the ball from behind the play more what he is suited to and accustomed to at this point in time.
What I expect will improve:
I expect Durdin increases his production and if played forward I anticipate with good coaching improves his leading patterns. If he can get his improvement tracking in the right direction again next year I feel he can over time start to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and with time develop into a dominant key position player at either end.
Who he can become?
Durdin projects to become a similar level talent to Jake Carlisle as that tall, mobile type who can play forward or back well.
When will he be ready to play?
The first couple of seasons we will see glimpses but it will be season three that I anticipate that he will start putting some strong performances together and season four when he establishes himself as a high level key position player.
How to best utilise him?
Durdin has key forward talent and the right mix of attributes to experience strong success as a key forward if he fixes up his leading patterns but at this stage Durdin is best suited as a key defender and is a safer bet to become a high level key defender.
Interpretation of his numbers:
He has struggled to get his hands on the footy this year both when played forward and back. His numbers due to his hand injury have been poor this season so Durdin is someone you draft based on his 2012 performance and the mix of attributes he shows in game and how that mix of attributes can translate at the next level and come together over time.
