Analysis BIG Jack

[Mighty Eagles]

How do you think he's played in 2014?

I think he started the season well, but faded lately - kicking just six goals in the last six games - three in the last five excluding his bag of three against the Saints last week.

Yes he's been in the middle in rotation, but he's not making the most of his opportunities while up forward, and that's what concerns me.

No doubt McGovern has been the best key forward since he came back to the team four weeks ago, kicking 10 goals in his last four games.

If he can start to have an impact playing in the middle during his rotation there I don't think there'll be a problem.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Would rather he focus on being a forward only. He just isn't good enough below his knees to play in the middle and I doubt he ever will be.

 

[kerrazy]

Very fumbly, reminds me of Sheppard.

 

[Yamumluvsbigcox]

Would rather he focus on being a forward only. He just isn't good enough below his knees to play in the middle and I doubt he ever will be.

Lol I was just thinking he should focus on being a mid because he is not big enough to be a key forward

 

[Prem87]

Very fumbly, reminds me of Sheppard.

Sheppard has improved immensely over the years, Jack's only 21/22 - will get better with age. Such a gun so young!

 

[TOA.]

Would rather he focus on being a forward only. He just isn't good enough below his knees to play in the middle and I doubt he ever will be.

This. The fascination to make quality forwards into average mids is frustrating.

Darling isnt fit for mine, even if Simpson said he was.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Darling isnt fit for mine, even if Simpson said he was.

If he isn't it's a joke that coaches continue to pick players who aren't fully fit.

Kennedy and McGovern are playing anyway, so no need to play him if he isn't right

 

[Monocle]

This. The fascination to make quality forwards into average mids is frustrating.

Darling isnt fit for mine, even if Simpson said he was.

This for me . I don't for one moment buy the "he is fully fit line". He is playing as if he is holding back on the full throttle.

 

[SpaceClef]

if he's not fit then surely now that finals are not really in the equation we start to give blokes a rest

Thought Darling was our best player for the first month or two this season, but he's lost his mojo.

Frustrating that when one or two guys are in form there's others who are cold. Then by the time they find form the others who were hot before get injured or lose momentum.

 

[Spoken4]

Straight swap for Morabito?

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Thought Darling was our best player for the first month or two this season, but he's lost his mojo.

Same

 

[matt_bas]

Straight swap for Morabito?

Lol

 

[Gerald Preston]

Think a few players (darling,masten) are taking time adjusting to playing a more accountable and team orientated role under Simpson (different to wooshas tactics) ...masten mentioned a few weeks ago that he's not just running around getting cheap kicks..think we need to be patient

 

[the harry]

Straight swap for Morabito?

Only if you throw in Pitt.

 

[ChampRevesby]

It's been said before but Darling just isn't great either side of his body with his kicking or by hand. Just isn't suited for the midfield.
Will monster the comp at HF in a few years. Superstar!

 

[Dark Sharks]

Good thread. Like a few have already mentioned, he had a great start to the season, but his last 6 weeks or so have been pretty damn uninspiring and overall his season as a whole has been average.

He played his best season (out of the 4) as our full time full forward when Kennedy went down in 2012. Whether that was because he was the entire focal point of our attack, I'm not sure. But he simply doesn't have the skills to be playing in the guts. Not fast enough with his disposal. Bit of a wooden back, and his handballs are shocking.

I'm not so sure he's "struggling with the gameplan" like someone mentioned, because he's had his opportunities, the balls been kicked to him. But like Kennedy he has simply been average with his 1 on 1's.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Straight swap for Morabito?

Is he ever gonna get a game? He literally ****ed 2 seasons of my supercoach sitting on my bench because I downright refused to trade him. And now he's actually fit and Ross goes and ****s me? Where is the justice?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Like i've said before he's not a midfielder and not a key forward. He's too small to be a KPF and too linear to play on ball. At the moment he's learning to play a different running role and with his pace, size and marking ability he'll be a true asset when he does. Once the season is done and dusted i'd even throw him on the back line to let him read the play coming out of defense, as it will assist him when he plays up the wings and gets caught behind the ball.

I figure he'll improve, particularly in terms of ball winning ability, endurance and clean hands. It just doesn't happen instantly nor should it. Woosha wasn't really interested about developing Darlings game while Simpson takes a different attitude and clearly sees McGovern as the better marking player and he's right. Bringing McGovern in has meant a lot less ball has been directed at Darling, which means he's got to find other ways of getting it. But that should be seen as a positive for the team as a whole, as he's too competitive to be stamped out of contests when given opportunities.

 

[Falco]

Is he ever gonna get a game? He literally ****** 2 seasons of my supercoach sitting on my bench because I downright refused to trade him. And now he's actually fit and Ross goes and ****s me? Where is the justice?

You're looking for justice in all the wrong places my friend.

 

[Milenko]

play him as an undersized CHB and see what happens

nothing to lose

 

[eagles rule]

Don't mind Jack rotating through the midfield and at this stage he's still learning the caper .Once he gets comfortable and builds his fitness up it will get easier for him .

With the rise of Gov as a marking target and the waxing by Kennedy and Leccras ,Darling needs to add more run to get to more contests and find his tackling mojo again.

 

[fidstar]

If he isn't it's a joke that coaches continue to pick players who aren't fully fit.

Kennedy and McGovern are playing anyway, so no need to play him if he isn't right

I never understand people that say "Don't play players that aren't fit". Every player playing on the field on the weekend isn't at 100% by this time of year. They all have some niggling injury. It's just how football is. It's just up to the medical staff to work out exactly how far from 100% a player is and it's long term impact if they play.

Should we not play Lecras because his arm isn't 100%?

Should Kerr not have played in the 2006 grand final because of a foot injury? (in before we are hardly playing a grand final)

etc

etc

I'm not having a go at you personally, it's just I hear it so much from multiple people it drives me insane.

Shit I can't play this weekend I got a paper-cut.

 

[Marlin01]

I never understand people that say "Don't play players that aren't fit". Every player playing on the field on the weekend isn't at 100% by this time of year. They all have some niggling injury. It's just how football is. It's just up to the medical staff to work out exactly how far from 100% a player is and it's long term impact if they play.

Should we not play Lecras because his arm isn't 100%?

Should Kerr not have played in the 2006 grand final because of a foot injury? (in before we are hardly playing a grand final)

etc

etc

I'm not having a go at you personally, it's just I hear it so much from multiple people it drives me insane.

Shit I can't play this weekend I got a paper-cut.

You might say "in before we aren't playing in a GF", but that is entirely relevant. Obviously, in a GF you pull out all stops.

In relation to Selwood, he's gone for the season because he tried to push through a niggle. What would we have lost by playing Colledge over a one-legged Selwood for a few weeks? Selwood could now be back available for selection and Colledge would have a few more games under his belt.

We're all crying out for midfield depth, yet when the opportunity to add to our midfield stocks avails itself, the MC choose to run one of our existing midfielders into the ground.

I'm not saying it isn't standard practice at all clubs, but it just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Tracker 101]

play him as an undersized CHB and see what happens

nothing to lose

Agree.
Jakovich , Macintosh and Brown all came to the club as key forwards and ended up in defence.
He is not a one touch player and is wasted in the midfield role.
As you say what have we got to loose.

 

[ndot]

is a forward, should be played as a forward

one of many players that have regressed under simspon's tutelage