Durdin and Turner selected in AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft

Tiger duo Brett Turner and Sam Durdin have been picked up in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft by Adelaide Football Club and Carlton Football Club.

Turner was the first SANFL player to be given an opportunity at Pick 4, with the Crows stating they ‘rate Brett very highly’ and have been impressed with the midfielder’s performances over the past 18 months.

“His early-season form has been outstanding and clearly above SANFL level, he deserves an opportunity, he has done a lot of extra work and presented his body and conditioning in outstanding shape,” Crows Recruiting Manager Hamish Ogilvie said on the Adelaide Football Club website.

Meanwhile Durdin, selected with Pick 13, has been given a second chance to play at the elite level, with a key opportunity presenting itself in the Blues’ injury-hit backline.

Speaking on the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft livestream last night, Durdin said Glenelg has been key in reigniting his passion and enjoyment for footy.

“The first time round [in the AFL] didn’t work out how I would have looked like, so fortunately enough I went to Glenelg at the Bay and I’ve absolutely loved my time there. I was able to play some good footy and now I’ve got this opportunity, so yea I’m very fortunate to have a second crack,” he said.

“I wanted to get back to enjoying footy and work on what makes me a good player – launching at the footy and really dominating my opponent. With the enjoyment side, at Glenelg I’ve had the most fun I’ve ever had in a footy environment, and I’m sure at Carlton it’ll be no different so I cant wait to get stuck into it.”

I know a lot of our fans are waking up today with mixed emotions after the AFL mid-season draft last night.

On one hand, we are excited and incredibly proud of our senior players Sam Durdin and Brett Turner, who get the opportunity to showcase their talent at the highest level. They are both ripping lads with strong character who deserve a crack at AFL level.

On the other hand, the SANFL is a 145 year old fiercely tribal competition that the SA football community loves and values just as much as those that follow the AFL. Our Tiger faithfuls are as passionate about our Club and winning as any sporting fan in the world. So, we understand your frustration, especially when we lose a player to a team competing against us in the SANFL. To also have them available to enhance their potential to win the SANFL premiership this year feels incomprehensible.

There are also a lot of financial and commercial implications of the mid-season draft that negatively affect the viability of State League Clubs, which is why we will continue to strongly lobby the SANFL and AFL to remove such mechanisms that compromise the culture and fabric of our competition.

Whilst it’s not ideal going through this adversity, rest assured we remain resolute and committed to our purpose of winning premierships and giving ourselves every opportunity to do so in 2022. Thanks for your ongoing support. Your loyalty is as critical today as it’s ever been. Go Tiges.

– Justin Scripps