COREY Durdin will swap the red of South Australia for the Navy Blue of Carlton in 2021 and beyond. 

Durdin officially became a Blue on the night of the 2020 NAB AFL Draft, selected by Carlton with pick No.37.

Capable of playing both in the midfield and up forward, Durdin burst onto the scene in the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships in 2018, winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player.

It is Durdin’s combination of speed and skills which make him a handful for the opposition, with the small forward providing he is just as dangerous in attack as he is as an on-baller.

Standing at 172 centimetres, Durdin has shown for a long time that he is more than capable of mixing it with the bigger bodies. The Central Districts product made his SANFL debut as a 17-year-old before playing a further nine senior games this year.

With his exposure to state league football, his finishing ability and willingness to get physical at the contest, it’s no surprise why the Blues called out Durdin’s name at pick No.37.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Corey to our football club for what we think will be a long career in Navy Blue,” Head of List Management Nick Austin said.

“What stood out with Corey is his exposure to arguably the best footy the country can offer outside the AFL. He’s tough, he’s quick, he’s clean and he’s a competitor at the end of the day.

“He’s shown that he can play a number of roles, originally starting out as a midfielder but having a real impact as a small forward in the last few seasons. That’s probably where we see him starting off.

“He’s a really clever footballer and someone who we can see just getting better and better, particularly learning from someone like Eddie Betts. We think our members and supporters will love what Corey has to offer going forward.”