“I WASN’T really sure what my chances were like until this week.”

While mid-season draft previews had linked Sam Durdin to Carlton in recent days, he wasn’t going to let the talk affect him.

Now, the key defender from Glenelg can well and truly think about life in Navy Blue, after he was selected by Carlton with pick No.13 in the 2022 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

A former first-round draft pick at North Melbourne, Durdin will get a second crack at the elite level — something which he acknowledges that not a lot of people get the chance at.

Speaking on AFL.com.au after being drafted to the Blues, Durdin said the primary focus was rewarding the show of faith from the recruiters and making an impact in whichever way possible.

“The mid-season draft was designed for clubs to focus in on a certain aspect of their game, whether it’s key defenders like Carlton at the moment,” Durdin said.

“It’s unfortunate they’ve got these injuries, but guys like myself can come in and given them a bit more depth and come in and make an impact.

“They’re in a great position at the moment and have been a really competitive side all year, so hopefully I can add to that.”

The 199-centimetre defender - who will celebrate his 26th birthday on Monday - played 22 games for North Melbourne in the AFL, but it was his move back to South Australia to play with the Bays which saw him flourish.

Going in with an outlook to bring his strengths to the table, Durdin found himself in a unique position which he believes was direct, positive influence on his football.

“At Glenelg, it was the most fun I’ve ever had in a footy environment,” he said.

“I just wanted to get back to enjoying footy and working on what makes me a good player. That’s when I’m launching at the footy and really dominating my opponent.

“In the last year and a half, going into the real world and working full time before going into SANFL training at night, all your spare time is eliminated pretty quickly. Time management is the most important part and that’s something I didn’t realise I had the first time around.

“Now I’ve got another shot, it’s something I’ll make sure I’m on top of and really give it a crack to get the most out of myself.”