Player Watch #27: Jack Darling

[Nylex]

Played well above expectations this year. Well done to him

 

[Blightys Barrel]

This has been a win on and off the field for the recruiting team. A goal a game, clearing space for other forwards and chopping out in the ruck. Also setting standards for those who want to know about what is required to play +300 games.

 

[hotchilli]

Has been everything we could have hoped for, definite tick on the recruiting front.

 

[the big lebowski]

best clubman incoming I think

 

[Passmore]

Yep, disappointing we didn't get Membrey......

 

[King Corey]

Does everything with a smile, young teammates look like they love him. So do I.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Doesn’t know when to stop.

Which is a superb trait.

I’ll always hate him for the phantom hold in the 2015 prelim, but I’ve put that to the side at the moment.

 

[muttley45]

Good season played 22 games, same as Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

33

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

with his ribs, JD missed only 1 game after his leg was horribly opened up, that's professionalism right there, and blokes like Trembath and Maley etc have a good mentor to learn from.

 

[Joshen]

Has been an excellent pick-up and I was a doubter. Can't put a price on leadership.

Do think that he may not be guaranteed a game next season though.

 

[Passmore]

Doesn’t know when to stop.

Which is a superb trait.

I’ll always hate him for the phantom hold in the 2015 prelim, but I’ve put that to the side at the moment.

The campaigner is a flipping weapon. Doesn’t miss a training session. Produces on field....where can we get another one?

 

[Spud11]

He’s got a great future with us

 

[sruss]

Seems weird West Coast let him go given they are in the same boat as us in needing good senior leaders who can play a role on game day. I obviously didn’t go out my way to watch Eagles play last year, but stats say he had similar impact (this year probably better, but only by a bit). Did they try to keep him?

 

[kool kangas]

If he has the ability to coach l wouldnt mind him being our forward line coach in the future..

 

[Lomas]

Seems weird West Coast let him go given they are in the same boat as us in needing good senior leaders who can play a role on game day. I obviously didn’t go out my way to watch Eagles play last year, but stats say he had similar impact (this year probably better, but only by a bit). Did they try to keep him?

I think they wanted to get his contract off the books to shuffle money around for a future Harley contract. Front ended a few others this year.

 

[Forever North]

Wrapped with his output and effort this year. Didn't just come over for an easy pay cheque like a lot have over the years.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

If he has the ability to coach l wouldnt mind him being our forward line coach in the future..

couldn’t agree more, already helped our forward line so much this year, imagine when he doesn’t have to worry about his own game.

 

[Roostorm]

I just love the big fella……has exceeded expectations l had ….is dragging the youngsters along with him….and dare l say is why a few of our players have had a brilliant season…hello Paul…
Worth every cent we paid and made some so called journalists look stupid with their thoughts on when we took him….hello jay Clarke

 

[Forever North]

Is he playing on next year? Keep him for insurance.

 

[Lomas]

Is he playing on next year? Keep him for insurance.

I think he got a two year contract.

 

[kool kangas]

Is he playing on next year? Keep him for insurance.

yes he's contracted for next year ...

 

[koshari]

Has been an excellent pick-up and I was a doubter. Can't put a price on leadership.

Do think that he may not be guaranteed a game next season though.

Probably more on tremmy than him. Few seen the events of the last 3 weeks transpiring.

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Seems weird West Coast let him go given they are in the same boat as us in needing good senior leaders who can play a role on game day. I obviously didn’t go out my way to watch Eagles play last year, but stats say he had similar impact (this year probably better, but only by a bit). Did they try to keep him?

Going into 2025 with Allen, Watermen, Reid, Williams, and drafting Shanahan, they looked pretty flush with forward/forward-ruck talent. Allen leaving and some lingering injuries might make that choice look worse in 2026, but at the time the draft seemed like a definite win-win.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Wrapped with his output and effort this year. Didn't just come over for an easy pay cheque like a lot have over the years.

His fellow WA team mates - aka Wage Thief’s (Logue and Fisher) should take a leaf out of his book. Actually they should take take the whole book on being on being professional and treating your career seriously. Both horrible busts and JD puts them too shame.

 

[the big lebowski]

I was calling for darling to north in 2023 when we were discussing trading with west coast for pick 1.

And as I said earlier, he’d be odds on to win best club man looking from a far. Everyone seems to love him, players, coaches and fans alike.

That said, I wonder how many games he plays next year.

xxx Larkey Curtis

Zuhaar The Bath xxx

The above seems locked in.

xxx X 2 would surely be smaller type players Banch, Durs, Harvey, Konstanty

Or resting mids sheez, Parker, Simpkin

You could play him off the bench potentially

Good problem to have I guess

 

[giantroo]

Kicked 22.12 in 2024.

Can we get 25-30 out of him?

Decent return considering it also allowed Bull and PC to have career best years.