AFL injury news Round 14: Carlton loses mid-season draftee Sam Durdin to injury

The player signed to solve Carlton’s backline crisis has joined the club’s long injury list, leaving Michael Voss with a huge problem to keep the Blues’ finals charge on track.

Sam Durdin is set to miss a month after being injured on his Carlton debut. Picture: Michael Klein.

Carlton coach Michael Voss faces a massive challenge patching up his weakened back line with mid-season recruit Sam Durdin facing one month on the sidelines.

The former North Melbourne defender injured the medial ligament in his knee in his first game for the Blues on Thursday night in another major blow to the club’s makeshift back line.

And goal kicker Jack Martin is in doubt for the clash for the clash against Fremantle in Perth next Saturday as he attempts to recover from a calf injury.

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Sam Durdin is set to miss a month after being injured on his Carlton debut. Picture: Michael Klein.

The Blues were already reeling from a considerable injury list which has savaged the back half with Jacob Weitering (shoulder), Mitch McGovern (hamstring), Oscar McDonald (back) and Caleb Marchbank (knee) all out.

Liam Jones was also taken off the list in pre-season after failing to meet the league’s vaccination requirements.

It means Voss may have to turn to Brodie Kemp or Liam Stocker as part of the running repairs to the defence which will rely heavily on former Bulldog Lewis Young and Lachie Plowman as they attempt to shore-up their spot in the eight.

The 193cm Kemp, 21, has been playing forward in the VFL and kicked two goals last week but could be switched into the back half to plug the gaping hole.

Sam Durdin spoils Richmond’s Noah Balta. Picture: Michael Klein

Kemp, who was taken with pick No. 17 in the 2019 draft and has overcome a knee reconstruction as well as a syndesmosis injury, has played four senior games.

The Blues turned to Durdin to help hold the defence together in Weitering’s absence for the next month, but the Glenelg pick-up hobbled to the bench late in a heartbreaking finish to his AFL comeback against the Tigers.

Martin also finished the loss to Richmond on the interchange and must prove his fitness this week, but the trip west won’t help his cause.

The double blow is another unlucky setback for Carlton which remains in the logjam for top-eight spots ahead of clashes against the Dockers (OS), Saints (Marvel), Eagles (OS) and Geelong (MCG).