How will Jack Darling respond in 2016?

[YippeeYiYeo]

Put simply, Jack had bit of a nightmare last year. He had an injury at the beginning that saw him miss the 1st half of the season, and then never really got going averaging less goals, tackles, and disposals per game than in 2014.

And then there was the Grand Final. Countless slow-mo footage pieces of that dropped chest mark and fumble between the legs have been all over the TV. It must absolutely haunt him. Like Milne not being able to gather the ball in 2010 in the dying seconds of the drawn grand final, like Rhyce Shaws infamous ball bounce that went behind him and he fell over gifting a goal to Brisbane in 2003. Its the sort of thing that must leave a mental scar.

For all of Milnes goals and brilliance, his career was defined in that moment in 2010, while Shaw got redemption at Sydney in 2012 and became a premiership player. How is Darling going to respond to his nightmare moment? I hope he has a blinder and kicks 50+ goals like he did in his 2nd season. We will find out a lot about his character this year.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

For all of Milnes goals and brilliance, his career was defined in that moment in 2010

I don't agree with this. Milne was a very, very good small forward and I think he's remembered for that rather than the one GF moment.

Darling will have a good season. He's played well in finals before so I have faith that he will do the same this year with more footy behind him.

 

[javaguice]

Milne is pretty well known for something else as well....

 

[EagleShore]

Yes - needs a big year or many will reasonably doubt his true potential, and you're spot on about his character, OP. The best players bounce back and become stronger after a failure rather than let it haunt them.

I think the two keys to Jack having a bigger impact this year will be his fitness (which is obvious for any player but specifically him in 2016 given his delayed start to 2015) and his ability to use his strength more effectively in marking contests. He marks reasonably well on the lead when receiving a quality disposal but when competing in a one-on-one tussle, trying to stand his ground and protect the drop zone, he seems to get thrown off kilter despite what should really be a competitive advantage for him - his bulk/strength/martial arts prowess.

Whatever happens, I feel that 2016 will define our expectations of Jack going forward. While I think we all still believe that he has a fair way to go to reach his ceiling, if he has an average/poor impact this year despite remaining fit, many on here will begin to question whether his ceiling is actually anywhere near where most considered it to be at the start of his career. And the purples will love that.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Darling strikes me as the sort of bloke that will be out to right the wrongs of that day.

In for a massive year imo

 

[Biggie]

Big year coming his way.

 

[avishka5]

but when competing in a one-on-one tussle, trying to stand his ground and protect the drop zone, he seems to get thrown off kilter despite what should really be a competitive advantage for him - his bulk/strength/martial arts prowess.
.

I was listening to jono brown few backs and he was talking about KPF's and he said more than anything KPF need to be really strong in their lower body. Jack is the exact opposite and is too top heavy and hence why he isnt great in the 1v1 tussles. However, it seems that this season the size of his upper and lower body is more balanced than before.


I dont think jack will bag more than 50 goals this season (more like between 45-40) as he will be playing more down the ground and midfield at times. He will have a lot more of the ball than before and have way more score involvements and inside 50's.He will perfectly complement Jk in that role and it will be a mouth watering contest when gov, jk and darling all play in the forward 50.

 

[ep2018]

Cant fault him last yr as expected he fell away due to no preseason. The guy is a tank and should be fit and firing this time around with maybe a tiny bit of scarring which wont affect him play.

 

[Farang83150]

Got faith in the young fella and recon he's in for a big season that'l prove a fair few wrong

 

[Matera92]

Darling will kill it.


All you doubters need to go uppercut yourselves.

 

[EagleShore]

I was listening to jono brown few backs and he was talking about KPF's and he said more than anything KPF need to be really strong in their lower body. Jack is the exact opposite and is too top heavy and hence why he isnt great in the 1v1 tussles. However, it seems that this season the size of his upper and lower body is more balanced than before.
I dont think jack will bag more than 50 goals this season (more like between 45-40) as he will be playing more down the ground and midfield at times. He will have a lot more of the ball than before and have way more score involvements and inside 50's.He will perfectly complement Jk in that role and it will be a mouth watering contest when gov, jk and darling all play in the forward 50.

He's certainly broad shouldered and has a strong upper body but his lower body is also sizable and martial arts is all about core strength. Hopefully the coaches have worked with him to improve this balance if required, and more particularly show him how to work his strength in the contest - what he did to Houli was great, but that was a front-on battle (however brief - damn I wish he'd kicked that goal).

 

[YEOLO]

Whatever happens, I feel that 2016 will define our expectations of Jack going forward. While I think we all still believe that he has a fair way to go to reach his ceiling, if he has an average/poor impact this year despite remaining fit, many on here will begin to question whether his ceiling is actually anywhere near where most considered it to be at the start of his career. And the purples will love that.

I think they'd love more to have him.

 

[EagleShore]

Darling will kill it.


All you doubters need to go uppercut yourselves.

Not doubting here - I reckon he's a gun who is yet to hit his ceiling. Anticipating a sizable leap towards that ceiling over the next 2 years.

Along with that of Sheed and Duggan, Darling's ability to improve this year will be critical to another tilt at the flag. Providing everyone else plays to a similar level as they did last year, and Redden and Jetta have an impact, we are a real show to beat the Hawks, who will still be the toughest team to beat in a big final in 2016.

 

[QS]

Darls will be better, one to watch is Hill, he's been threatening but I reckon Simmo has turned him into a freakin' weapon.

 

[avishka5]

He's certainly broad shouldered and has a strong upper body but his lower body is also sizable and martial arts is all about core strength. Hopefully the coaches have worked with him to improve this balance if required, and more particularly show him how to work his strength in the contest - what he did to Houli was great, but that was a front-on battle (however brief - damn I wish he'd kicked that goal).

he used to be top heavy but not as much anymore.

 

[avishka5]

Darls will be better, one to watch is Hill, he's been threatening but I reckon Simmo has turned him into a freakin' weapon.

I think hurn will have a massive year as well. had to be that third tall defender last year and we didnt see too much of his run and use of his long kick last season. i think him on song and using that leg of his, will add another dimension to the squad. Possibly AA for the champ.

 

[WCEswift]

IMO Darlings upper half looks more in proportion this year to his lower either losing some muscle or gaining in his legs. Hope he has a corker

 

[Milenko]

Darling also gave away a momentum killing 50m peno in the GF to gift Hawks their first goal.

For completeness, obvs.

 

[Eaglespur]

Coleman medal would be nice (i have a 10er on him). Realistically i think he is going to have a monster year, man on a mission. 50+ goals, some serious chase down tackles and freakish athletic pressure in the forward half is what i expect.

 

[bodazoka]

Not sure what his role is exactly?

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Not sure what his role is exactly?

This. Not a KPF, sometimes struggles to have an impact as a third tall with not enough delivery, struggles in the midfield. I think eventually his best position will be a high half forward. Having an impact at throw ins, providing a target for the long bomb out of the backline etc.

 

[Milenko]

He played a fair stretch at CHB in the Bombers game, maybe they intend to do a few Gov/Darls switcheroos during the season.

 

[paran]

Having a full preseason and a strong fitness base is key to his performance. When he came back from injury he never fully recaptured his mobility and endurance, 2 key attributes. I think he'll have a very big season playing more HFF and up the ground than last year and will be pushing for AA selection. If he's playing well the team as whole tends to be playing well.

 

[ConcreteWaters]

Was last year really a failure? He still averaged 1.73 goals per game compared to the previous season of 1.77 and a career average of 1.75. He dropped a chest mark in the gf, but Jesus, most of our team had absolute stinkers in that game. Some of his other stats were down but the guy missed half a season through injury. Cut the guy some slack, he's still young and he's been mostly high quality in his short career. There's nothing to bounce back from. A full preseason and he'll be back to his full ninja powers.

 

[Eaglespur]

Not sure what his role is exactly?

Well, it is whatever he wants it to be. He is the king after all.