Player Watch #27: Jack Darling

[Errol Street]

Was at the game yesterday. I was completely perplexed when the crowd was booing him. I asked an Eagles supporter why are you booing? His reply?

"The dog left us mate he deserves to be boo'd"

Huh?!? They discarded him... Eagles supporters are cooked. What a way to treat a club great.

Anyway wssnt his best game yesterday but at least he offered something unlike Konstanty.

he offered nothing absolute zilch!!!

 

[The Nostradamus]

Whitlock to replace darling soon pls

 

[R00StaR]

Last year when i first saw him i thought Trembath played a very similar style to Darling and even posted i wonder if he can ruck. Hell yeah he can, that leap! On one hand i could see Trembath cutting Darling's time short, but on the other theres no better bloke to have around given the similarities.

But yeah for mine Darling is put on ice in the 2s and only break glass incase of emergency. Larkey, Trembath, Whitlock, Durrsma, Zurhaar and Curtis is all the tall/ medium marking types we need.

 

[shinboner magic]

If Whitlock is kicking 2,3,4 goals in the vfl - put him in

 

[Harris 10]

Whitlock to replace darling soon pls

I’d actually just go with Trembath and Larkey as the talls this week.

But in no way should Darling be in the side towards the end of the year, it’s questionable if he should be in there now.

 

[RHLK]

I’d actually just go with Trembath and Larkey as the talls this week.

But in no way should Darling be in the side towards the end of the year, it’s questionable if he should be in there now.

'Jacky-boy' in his last year at WC was endless fodder for text battles against WCE mates, & I was horrified, and carpet bombed, when we picked him up.

Darling was good against Port, providing the safe outlet kick which he generally either halved over the boundary, or marked.
His body work down the line was superb.

Surprised when he appeared on the telly yesterday - forgot he was even playing.

A good game, a bad (shocking) game. Really hope he is overtaken this season, but a rejig will be needed.

 

[Dingster]

A lot jumping off pretty quickly. The learning is he's of value on the smaller grounds and rest on bigger grounds.

 

[Whippet1]

A lot jumping off pretty quickly. The learning is he's of value on the smaller grounds and rest on bigger grounds.

And maybe consider the travel factor on older players when playing interstate. It’s not a radical idea but AFL clubs are loathe to do it. Maybe except for Collingwood. You can’t expect to get 22 games out of 300+ games players. Unless your name is Boomer Harvey.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

What are the 2026 goals for this warrior at the club?

I think it’s somewhere in the 14-16 game mark, including a retirement game at the end of the season if we are out of top 10 contention. Have a few spells when we have 5 day breaks and per above the bigger grounds. There might be an injury here or there and he comes in as a replacement. He has already been good for this club and the forward line has more structure and fire power than the prior years. Yesterday was an extremely quiet day by his standards, and at +300 games that’s OK to have a stinker. He did play well against Porta. His preparation and professionalism cannot be questioned. Age shall weary them.

 

[shintemaster]

And maybe consider the travel factor on older players when playing interstate. It’s not a radical idea but AFL clubs are loathe to do it. Maybe except for Collingwood. You can’t expect to get 22 games out of 300+ games players. Unless your name is Boomer Harvey.

It’s easy for Collingwood to do it because they travel 4 times a year.

 

[kool kangas]

Maybe its time for a rest . l hardly noticed him all game. However we are playing the Bummers and maybe he will want to redeem himself and l still like the Darling , Larkey and Trembath tall forward structure.

 

[Chadwiko]

This week isn't the week to drop him.

If we're going to beat Essendon, we need to expose and stretch their depleted backline.

Big-bodied Darling helps with that a lot more than under-developed Whitlock.

 

[Chip Scab1]

One of the reasons we continue to struggle is because senior players also have a drop in form week to week.

Basically treated this week like a holiday back home. Just a horrible game and the reverse midas touch of last week against Port.

Couldnt mark, couldnt kick, couldnt impact.

Yep, and predictable. Just leave him out of WA games and we should be ok. He can fly over and see his mates without being distracted by family and friends (and a game of footy).

Was always going to be the case too, which kinda makes it worse.

 

[chubbspeterson]

This week isn't the week to drop him.

If we're going to beat Essendon, we need to expose and stretch their depleted backline.

Big-bodied Darling helps with that a lot more than under-developed Whitlock.

It depends if he's cooked or not from the short break. He looked cooked to the eye, so he might need the rest.
So likely one of Dawson, Whitlock or CCJ comes in, depending what role they need.

 

[ferball]

Congrats on your VFL debut Jack.

 

[7577969923]

Congrats on your VFL debut Jack.

He's played very well in the first half. May have a future.

 

[Chadwiko]

so straight back in, then?

 

[Palpatine]

so straight back in, then?

for who?

 

[Chip Scab1]

so straight back in, then?

No way. Must go young. Too many older types taking us nowhere as it is.

Parker and Pink the only good ones.

 

[tazaa]

Has to come in to share the ruck load with CCJ and Tremmers.

Pittonet was mauled yesterday by Max so 3 going at him is needed.
CCJ is cooked too.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Has to come in to share the ruck load with CCJ and Tremmers.

Pittonet was mauled yesterday by Max so 3 going at him is needed.
CCJ is cooked too.

CCJ never even got warm.

 

[tazaa]

CCJ never even got warm.

The less said the better.