Sam Durdin arrives at North Melbourne after long journey to AFL from country SA
IT was a bizarre springboard for an AFL career but North Melbourne’s top draft pick Sam Durdin is ready to make his mark.
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IT was a bizarre springboard for an AFL career.
On a winter’s night in remote South Australia, a footy clinic for about six girls and boys on a mice-infested oval was held with parents huddled around a 44-gallon fire drum drinking port.
But for North Melbourne’s No.16 draft pick Sam Durdin it was either convince SANFL club West Adelaide to drive 3½ hours to host training or remain living on his family’s 2800ha farm in Halidon.
“We had a meeting with Andrew Marks, the talent manager at West Adelaide,” Durdin said yesterday.
“Mum said, ‘If you want our boys to go to West Adelaide next year, I want you to take training at East Murray’, which is a really small, struggling club (now dormant).
“We left Marksy there, but I don’t think he had the greatest of times. It was pretty funny on our behalf.
“Mum was very happy with how Marksy went at training and I haven’t looked back.”
Marks was sent by coach Andy Collins (now at Williamstown) to recruit Durdin and twin brother Mark.
“The clinic was absolutely freezing,” Marks said.
“There was a mice plague, so there were mice running everywhere and the locals had come out to see the ‘Westies bloke’.
“How long did it go for? Too long, but the rest is history. If it wasn’t for that, Sam could still be there.”
When the Durdin twins relocated to Adelaide in 2012, Halidon’s population dropped markedly.
“With myself and my brother gone, there were five people, so Mum, Dad and the neighbours,” Durdin said.
“Yeah, seriously. Five. Halidon is very small and I don’t think it’s getting any bigger, either.”
The Durdins switched from an area school with about 40 students from pre-school to year 12 to Adelaide’s Henley High School, home to 1300 students.
“That was the scary part. It was so tough to get used to.” Durdin said.
Marks said he cried on Saturday when the 197cm swingman, once touted as a top-three draft pick, dropped off a present before relocating to Melbourne.
“I don’t think Sam realises how good he is yet,” Marks said.
“He can mark, he can kick it, he can run, he’s tall and he’s at the perfect club with a family environment.”
Durdin was best-afield in West Adelaide’s under-18 preliminary and grand final wins this year.
“He was in the ruck and running back to take these defensive marks and then rebounding, it was incredible,” Marks said.
“I was sitting there thinking, ‘Far out, this is the last time we’ll be seeing him at West Adelaide’.”
Durdin, who will wear Levi Greenwood’s vacated No.24, has moved in with a host family and teammate Trent Dumont and says he wants to “give pre-season a fair old crack”.
“(The host family) are ripping people,’’ he said. “They’re a 10-minute drive from the club, but I can’t tell you where it is — I’ve got no idea of my way around Melbourne.’’
After growing up on a farm with wheat, barley, triticale, oats and sheep, he said he had a lot to get used to.
“And I’ll have to tell North Melbourne that I have to go back in July to help Dad with the shearing. Nah, I’m only kidding,” he said.
WHAT THEY SAID:
KANGAROOS RECRUITER BRYCE LEWIS:
“We’ve been able to get a quality tall into the club. He’s a good contested mark that can play either forward or back. He’s quite athletic and really composed with the ball in his hand.”
WEST ADELAIDE TALENT MANAGER ANDREW MARKS:
“The Roos have hit the jackpot, mate. Not only have they got a great footballer, but a special man.”
SAM DURDIN:
“I had to wait a little bit, more than I expected to get my name called out, but I’m just absolutely rapt to be at North Melbourne.”
Originally published as Sam Durdin arrives at North Melbourne after long journey to AFL from country SA
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