One man’s frustration and self-recrimination at North Melbourne is another player’s long-awaited opportunity.

As defender Scott Thompson deals with his AFL suspension, North players mobbed Sam Durdin at training on Thursday when he was confirmed for his AFL debut.

After two years of his own frustrations, Durdin will have the honour of becoming the 1000th “Shinboner” when they play the Giants on Saturday in Hobart

Thompson is serving a one-match ban for his high forearm jolt on Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield.

“It’s probably touch and go who’s more disappointed – Scott or myself,” the coach said.

“But as disappointed as I am, he’s probably even more so.

“He missed a tackle, he wanted to make amends for it and he just had a brain fade.”

Injuries have meant Durdin has had to wait for his AFL debut and the North coach said the 20-year-old had been on a mission to crack the senior side.

“From day one of the off-season last year, he has just been determined to break through into our senior team,” Scott said.

“He’s had a magnificent pre-season.

“It’s a great honour to be the 1000th Shinboner to represent our club.

“He’s had a couple on injuries that have kept him out of our side, but he’s a first-round selection and someone we have a really high regard for.”

While North are yet to win a game this season, they were outstanding for a big chunk of last Sunday’s one-point loss to the Cats.

Giants coach Leon Cameron this week said North were the hardest team in the competition – a comment that made Scott smile.

“That’s a massive compliment,” he said.

“I would caution our guys that it’s round two and we haven’t been able to sustain that level of competitiveness or pressure across four quarters.

“That’s the next challenge for us.”

The Giants have only played in Hobart once – a 129-point loss to the Kangaroos five years ago – and Scott hopes their second home ground will be a factor.

“That will give us hopefully a little leg-up,” he said.

While North pushed Geelong last weekend, the Giants responded to their poor round-one loss to Adelaide by mauling Gold Coast.

“They got a wake-up call in round one and responded as all good teams do,” Scott said of GWS.

“We’ve started the year in a really competitive fashion, but unfortunately that doesn’t deliver us any points.

“We’re looking to take another step this weekend in a place that we’re really familiar with, that we love playing in.

“We’re looking to make Hobart a fortress.”