Player Watch #27: Jack Darling

[Possession]

What are we going to do when this beautiful man retires?

That's where my mind has gone too. I was quietly confident that he'd be a good fit for that black hole of a KPF spot and he has exceeded my expectations, now I'm wondering what the plan is when the time comes.

 

[DuckYeah]

Can everyone wrong please acknowledge it now?

No, 2 games isn’t a large enough sample size.

He’s been good 2 weeks, played better football his last 2 weeks than he has the last 4 years. Im holding the line.

But was decent part of a working machine yesterday.

 

[The Nostradamus]

That's where my mind has gone too. I was quietly confident that he'd be a good fit for that black hole of a KPF spot and he has exceeded my expectations, now I'm wondering what the plan is when the time comes.

Chom might swing forward and whitlock takes his chb spot in 2 years time

or we manage to bring a free agent in

 

[Zondor]

Can everyone wrong please acknowledge it now?

LOL. 2 games brother. Darling looked cooked at West Coast. He has played 2 solid games for us. Beautiful! I hope he continues to contribute. He has been a point of difference in our forward make up because he does have the tendency to lead up to the ball carrier. :stern look

 

[Its a Process]

Feels like he’s single handily unlocked the talent in the forward line.

Small sample size but the structure looks a million times better with big Jack up forward.

Also, the players appear to love him and he’s totally bought in to our Club.

 

[joybell27]

I am another one that was very sceptical with his recruitment. I could clearly see the need for another key forward but Darling looked like it was time for him to retire. I am so pleased to see him performing so well and hope his good form continues as it makes us a much better side.

 

[SMaturin]

Liked the vision of him looking frustrated when he marked on the half forward line and didn’t like the options inside 50.

Feel as though he’ll continue to shape the forward patterns a lot.

 

[Farthers]

Feels like he’s single handily unlocked the talent in the forward line.

Small sample size but the structure looks a million times better with big Jack up forward.

Also, the players appear to love him and he’s totally bought in to our Club.

Watching all the goals, his body work was key in a few plays for Larkey etc to have a free run at the footy.

 

[King Hansen]

LOL. 2 games brother. Darling looked cooked at West Coast. He has played 2 solid games for us. Beautiful! I hope he continues to contribute. He has been a point of difference in our forward make up because he does have the tendency to lead up to the ball carrier. :stern look

Sounds to me like those who didn't like the trade at the time looking for excuses.

 

[Sphynx]

Im eating humble pie at the moment.

Been fantastic in all the games so far, including preseason.

Playing the perfect foil at the moment. Pressuring, legitimate mobile target next to Larkey and taking 1-2 key contested marks up the ground.

AND chopping out in the ruck....


I reckon he enjoys getting up the ground for his ruck stints to be honest. It gets him naturally involved in the game, instead of frozen out.

Not getting disgraced by any means either, he's a better ruckman than Teakle, despite being 10cm's shorter. We got demolished in the ruck when Teakle went in there last year. JD is breaking even and then impacting OK at ground level.

It's just enough for X to get that rest and we have a legitimate B+ key forward for the remainder of the game vs a C grade forward and C grade ruckman.

 

[King Hansen]

No, 2 games isn’t a large enough sample size.

He’s been good 2 weeks, played better football his last 2 weeks than he has the last 4 years. Im holding the line.

But was decent part of a working machine yesterday.

But if he had of played 2 shit games, I bet you'd be like, "sEe, tolD yOu aLl DaRlIng wAs sHiT".

 

[Jebus]

Awesome watching him get up the ground for our kick ins as well. So odd to see such a big bodied player in there causing havoc, love it.

 

[Zondor]

Sounds to me like those who didn't like the trade at the time looking for excuses.

It sounds like you’re giving head to yourself after 2 games. Talk about premature ejaculation. :stern look

 

[Sphynx]

To emphasize my point.

Rnd 1 & 2 have been JD's 3rd and 4th highest rated games in his past 3 seasons (60+ games) and he did it in consecutive games in this new role at his new club.

They both rank in his top 40 games of his 300 game career.

The sample size is obviously too small, but to put it in perspective, this would be his best season of his career if he emulated this for the next 20 games based on his ranking average.

It would eclipse 2019 when he kicked 60 goals, and 45 odd coaches votes and won his only AA jacket.

I think this ruck role has really released him. Obviously not playing in a spoon contender will help also.

 

[Disco Dew]

It sounds like you’re giving head to yourself after 2 games. Talk about premature ejaculation. :stern look

 

[TruRoo]

Obviously not playing in a spoon contender will help also.

Jeez I hope this doesn't come back to bite.

 

[Sphynx]

Jeez I hope this doesn't come back to bite.

I meant purely on the 2 game sample.

They aren't matches he was playing for a side demolished in.

In fact, it was in a side with midfield dominance.

 

[Samsquanch]

I wonder if North had to get that #28 jumper specially made in Darling's size as there is no way in hell there were any size 6XL jumpers just lying around in the club's store room before he turned up.

 

[Dodecahedron]

The subtle block to create a path for Larkey's first goal .... he's already done that a few times in first 2 games. Last year Larkey would have been crunched in a pack. Not easy to teach someone that without giving away frees. Not sure it goes down in the stats somewhere or marked as an assist. The man knows what he's doing.

 

[ferball]

He’s got a bit of the Waito club man vibe about him now.

Yep.

I thought no way we'd see that either whenever I read it on here or heard it in RL. "JD = W80? Tell 'em they're dreaming." You couldn't argue with the value and physicality he was gonna bring, that was obvious, but he adds more than just that. You can tell the boys love him and that he belongs.

Different player to W80, not as athletic or mobile but he is a beast and he makes it so much harder for opposition backs and so much easier for our forwards. I think he makes a few of the younger, smaller guys walk a bit taller too.

 

[Sphynx]

Yep.

I thought no way we'd see that either whenever I read it on here or heard it in RL. "JD = W80? Tell 'em they're dreaming." You couldn't argue with the value and physicality he was gonna bring, that was obvious, but he adds more than just that. You can tell the boys love him and that he belongs.

Different player to W80, not as athletic or mobile but he is a beast and he makes it so much harder for opposition backs and so much easier for our forwards. I think he makes a few of the younger, smaller guys walk a bit taller too.

Probably more Thommo or Sav tbh.

 

[Samsquanch]

I think the real difference with Darling is that he's fitted in so well from the outset compared to so many of the players who've come in from other clubs in the past. There might be a personality thing (that video certainly gives the impression that he's a popular figure) that has helped, but it's plain to see how he's been able to assist on-field by the positioning, blocking and guiding and by his confidence. It's the confidence that rubs off on to the other players around him that I think will be his greatest contribution. If what we saw yesterday is any indication, Larkey will be a direct benificiary. Zurhaar and Curtis have a mentor. Konstanty and Hansen have a spiritual guide (I couldn't think of what else to call it). The mids have a new forward line to kick into. One player has the ability to change so much. Add Parker, who was up to his chin in good things against Melbourne and Daniel... It's Happening!!!

 

[Marstermind]

What are we going to do when this beautiful man retires?

By then we'll have free agents lining up around the corner into Fogarty St to join us. We'll get a KPF from there

 

[Lomas]

Well played.
I reckoned Zurhaar will be inviting him over for some Bulls cooking often

You just know he’ll be the guy grabbing the meat out of the fridge and thanking bull for a job well done.

 

[shinboner magic]

Uses his body so well in marking contests - doesn’t get shifted

His ruck work is pretty good - he’s strong af