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Gisborne: Planned outages Tue-WedWhy departing Blue Durdin pushed for Power move
Jack Elliott • October 14th, 2025 3:40 pm
Former Carlton forward Corey Durdin has made the move back to South Australia, joining Port Adelaide in one of the biggest trades of the trade period so far.
Even with a year still left on his contract, the pull of home ultimately drove the decision to push for a move back to his home state.
“A year left on the contract and got back to Adelaide after the season finished and just started having a think about where my future looks,” Durdin told Trade Radio.
“I ultimately made a decision that I want to move back a bit closer to my family and get back home.
“I just asked the manager to see if there’s any interest and Port (Adelaide) came with an opportunity. It all happened really quickly.”
The small forward’s move to Alberton comes as part of a three-team trade with Carlton and Gold Coast, which saw picks 29, 67 and the Power’s future-second round pick change hands, as well as Ben Ainsworth’s move to the Blues.
A move which Durdin believes help grant his wish.
“I wasn’t really expecting anything to happen this year, then last week it all sort of just changed,” he said.
“I think Ben Ainsworth going to Carlton probably made it happen, and I think all parties involved probably got what they want, so everyone’s happy.”
After being away from his family since getting drafted to Carlton in 2020, Durdin couldn’t hide his excitement about being back around his family, especially his little sister Shianne, who is blind, after being born with a genetic condition affecting her retina.
“She’s stoked. She’s absolutely over the moon,” he said.
“Not just her, my brother as well, my mum and dad, they’re really excited for me being back home.
“I get to be a bit more a part of (her life) … and her journey, and that’s what I’m really excited for and she’s the same.”
A fresh start in his home state could be good for the livewire as he eyes off an uninterrupted pre-season, after going through a shoulder surgery and a syndesmosis injury last summer, which ruled him out of the first four rounds of the 2025 season.
“It’s nice actually feeling pretty good for once. It’s the first year in about three years where I haven’t had a shoulder reconstruction,” he said.
“It’s nice coming into the pre-season day one not feeling like I’m playing catch-up.
“I had a really good chat with ‘Vossy’ (Michael Voss) through my exit and he said himself, he was really excited.”
Durdin is also set to fill the void left by the retiring Willie Rioli, but believes he still has strings to add to his bow.
“That small forward role is what I’m chasing,” he declared.
“A deep forward who impacts, kicks goals and puts on pressure, that’s my main role. But I think there is a lot of opportunity for me to grow, make some impact around the stoppage as well.
“That’s something I’ll be pushing for and working hard towards in the pre-season.”
There will also be a few familiar faces for the new arrival, as he joins former junior teammates Jason Horne-Francis and Mani Liddy at Alberton.
“It definitely helps the transition. It’s nice to know that those guys that I’ve played a bit of footy with as a junior are there,” Durdin said.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to work with those guys and looking forward to sharing the field with them again.”
He joins Will Brodie and Jacob Wehr who have also joined Port Adelaide this off-season.
Durdin played 64 games, kicking 48 goals during his five-year stint at the Blues.
