Plucked from Richmond's VFL squad by the Bombers with pick nine in last month's mid-season draft, Durham found himself pulling on number 42 against North Melbourne on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
The 1180th player to don the sash for the club displayed plenty of the attributes of the last player to wear number 42 for the Bombers — Adam Saad - in his maiden match at the level.
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Dashing speed and fierce tackling were hallmarks of Durham's debut, highlighted in the first 15 seconds of the game when he charged off the wing and snared North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein in a diving effort.
The seventh debutant the Bombers have blooded this season had big shoes to fill, with the in-form Kyle Langford out of the side through injury.
But Durham's flowing locks were seen all across the ground as he roamed from his wing to deep in defence and back again.
Durham even flew for a huge mark in the goal square in the second quarter, but nervously sent the resulting kick into the goal post.
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He later set up Jake Stringer's first goal late in the third term, sprinting hard to provide an outlet target and showing great poise to steady and find his much more experienced teammate on the lead.
Durham also received plenty of plaudits for a desperate smother which stopped a Kangaroos’ shot on goal in the final stanza, with the Bombers just eight points up at the time.
“It was a bit unlike us in the first half. Our pressure was down. We were standoffish and North were able to kick their way through us too often. Credit needs to go to them, but our stuff was down,” Essendon coach Ben Rutten said post-match.
“The players certainly wanted to respond after the first half. The guys put their hands up and were keen to do something about it. Some guys stood up significantly for us.
“Jakey’s (Stringer) second half was really strong, (Peter) Wright’s whole game was really strong. There were some key moments throughout the game. Brayden Ham had some really important moments, and even Sam Durham in his first game.”
All up, the Seymour and Murray Bushrangers product notched 11 disposals and five marks from 72 per cent time on ground in his side's three-goal win.
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