Jack Darling

[Brunswick Trap King]

Completely agree. His best season was his debut season and hasn't don't anything of note since. A good average player.

His second year was his best year, when Kennedy missed the entire year and he kicked 52 or so goals.

 

[SterlingArcher]

So have any of you that are roasting Darling played a game of AFL? 90 kilo men are running at break neck speed, and you are expected to constantly put yourself through mental and physical exhaustion. I don't particularly like Jack Darling but he has kicked 40 odd goals and had a pretty good year. As far as courage (mentally and physically) he's achieved more than most on here. Give the guy a f##king break.

Lol ok Jack, we won't post about you again

 

[The 747]

Think he missed a promising career as a professional wrestler TBH

 

[WCE_phil]

Yeah I agree. If he grew 5-7 more cm he could've been anything.

He was born 20 years too late. His reach is actually very poor for a player his height for 1 and he is too short to be a modern day key tall. His ability to knock out consistant 40-50 goal years given his physical restrictions has actually been very, very good. But in high pressure finals footy against guys who are just as fast and agile as you are with a 10-20cm better reach in greater congestion he is never going to be a star forward. Third tall is his spot and unfortunately we don't have a second tall worth playing. We really need a guy who is a genuine forward who can spot 25-30% of the ruck time and have darling playing lecras role.

 

[ThirtyThr33]

His second year was his best year, when Kennedy missed the entire year and he kicked 52 or so goals.

My mistake and I take back what I said as I'm wrong. Going by his stats he has performed well other than the '14 & '15 seasons.

 

[SterlingArcher]

He's not shit or anything, he's a pretty decent 2nd KF, but he just messes up so many basic things that he can't take the next step to being a true gun.

Tory Dickson booted 50 last year and is sort of in-between Darling and LeCras type wise. Yet he gets none of Darling's hype, even LeCras still gets talked about. Dickson has had a slow year this year but is still relatively comparable stats-wise...but one is a 'gun', one is a 'no-name'.
Yet Dickson doesn't squib, is an extremely reliable kick at goal, plays in a more defensive team...it's just weird.

Calls to trade Darling are silly, they aren't going to get a better output from his replacement (plus they'd get better +/- results from trading out the likes of Brown, Masten who don't really contribute much at all), but he's just so frustrating. 2 big finals, he's shit himself 2 times..doesn't mean he's gutless/soft etc all the time, but in those 2 instances he was poor and it was on the big stage, so that reputation sticks. Gibbs is still called Squibbs from avoiding a contest when he was 18 v Milne, even though he hasn't avoided a contest since that I can recall he still gets called it.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Still laughing that Melbourne supporters are knocking Darling for his finals performances. I'd comment on Watts and his efforts in finals, but.....

 

[Forward Press]

He's not shit or anything, he's a pretty decent 2nd KF, but he just messes up so many basic things that he can't take the next step to being a true gun.

Tory Dickson booted 50 last year and is sort of in-between Darling and LeCras type wise. Yet he gets none of Darling's hype, even LeCras still gets talked about. Dickson has had a slow year this year but is still relatively comparable stats-wise...but one is a 'gun', one is a 'no-name'.
Yet Dickson doesn't squib, is an extremely reliable kick at goal, plays in a more defensive team...it's just weird.

Calls to trade Darling are silly, they aren't going to get a better output from his replacement (plus they'd get better +/- results from trading out the likes of Brown, Masten who don't really contribute much at all), but he's just so frustrating. 2 big finals, he's shit himself 2 times..doesn't mean he's gutless/soft etc all the time, but in those 2 instances he was poor and it was on the big stage, so that reputation sticks. Gibbs is still called Squibbs from avoiding a contest when he was 18 v Milne, even though he hasn't avoided a contest since that I can recall he still gets called it.

Stop stealing my thoughts.

Spot on. I don't know why LeCras and Masten have escaped scrutiny for the most part, they have been mediocre this year. Masten is a plodding and average kick in an era of athletes and precise foot skills, and LeCras is a classic downhill skier. Mitch Brown tries hard but in the end will never be an A grader at the Eagles, is not part of our future and is depth at best. Send him east for draft picks, I know St Kilda were interested a couple of years ago.

Darling is not the most pressing of concerns.

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

So have any of you that are roasting Darling played a game of AFL? 90 kilo men are running at break neck speed, and you are expected to constantly put yourself through mental and physical exhaustion. I don't particularly like Jack Darling but he has kicked 40 odd goals and had a pretty good year. As far as courage (mentally and physically) he's achieved more than most on here. Give the guy a f##king break.

What's the old saying, "when the going gets tough, Jack Darling runs for the hills?"

And his mummy comes on here to defend him.

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

Still laughing that Melbourne supporters are knocking Darling for his finals performances. I'd comment on Watts and his efforts in finals, but.....

Well to be fair, Jack Watts hasn't yet had the opportunity to completely shit himself in two finals.

 

[SterlingArcher]

Stop stealing my thoughts.

Spot on. I don't know why LeCras and Masten have escaped scrutiny for the most part, they have been mediocre this year. Masten is a plodding and average kick in an era of athletes and precise foot skills, and LeCras is a classic downhill skier. Mitch Brown tries hard but in the end will never be an A grader at the Eagles, is not part of our future and is depth at best. Send him east for draft picks, I know St Kilda were interested a couple of years ago.

Darling is not the most pressing of concerns.

LeCras is my pet hate right now. I don't know why he's annoyed me so much this year, just every time I watch WC I get so mad at him.
I think he stood up in one of your late season wins (GWS maybe) but other than that, classic downhill skier all year and the thing that frustrates me most is that he is always whinging when his teammates don't give him gifts in the goalsquare...

Brown I'd have at Carlton for sure, prefer him either end over Rowe/Casboult, but when Mackenzie isn't even getting a game, I can't see why Eagles need him.

And yeah Masten is the type of player that needs to be a perfect kick for what he does otherwise, but he is really is the ultimate vanilla type.

 

[Forward Press]

What's the old saying, "when the going gets tough, Jack Darling runs for the hills?"

What does Brad and Stephen have to do with Jack Darling?

 

[Forward Press]

LeCras is my pet hate right now. I don't know why he's annoyed me so much this year, just every time I watch WC I get so mad at him.
I think he stood up in one of your late season wins (GWS maybe) but other than that, classic downhill skier all year and the thing that frustrates me most is that he is always whinging when his teammates don't give him gifts in the goalsquare...

Brown I'd have at Carlton for sure, prefer him either end over Rowe/Casboult, but when Mackenzie isn't even getting a game, I can't see why Eagles need him.

And yeah Masten is the type of player that needs to be a perfect kick for what he does otherwise, but he is really is the ultimate vanilla type.

Had his spot on the line before the game against Brisbane (second time around), downhill skied and the run of easy games afterwards ensured he retained the spot until last night. Was a big critic before then, still a big critic during that run, and of course still a big critic now.

I think we share the same opinions on LeCras and Masten.

 

[Black Panther]

Requested a trade to Essendon according to Twatter

 

[Feerits Elf]

Gibbs is still called Squibbs from avoiding a contest when he was 18 v Milne, even though he hasn't avoided a contest since that I can recall he still gets called it.

Yeah, cos it rhymes

If he'd blackened his eye in a drunken brawl at 18 but told Carlton he'd done it while sparring with a mate in his backyard he'd still be known today as Bryce Fibs

 

[PurpleHornet]

Listen i played with and against jack and the guy was a juniors freak. He probably averaged 13 goals a game and was the best colt in the state for his age. I think because he started so well people expected him to become an absolute megastar but hes at the level it takes some kpf prospects years to get too. Hes only 24, the age group where most rucks/fwds come good if theyre gonna make it. He is the least of wce worries

Probably right. My understanding of Darling is that he was an early developer who basically had a man's body at 16 so he comes into the AFL at 18-19 without as much upside as others at the same age. Everyone (me included) thought he was going to develop further into a freak superstar but physically he was probably as good as he going to get at 19-20.

My own theory (and I have absolutely no evidence to back this up apart from my own observations) is that kids that dominate the junior ranks largely through their physical superiority struggle more in the big time. They haven't had to develop the sheer guts smaller kids do when playing against bigger kids and they don't develop those innate footy smarts other less physically developed/gifted Ki ds have to do to compete. Hence, when they get to the big time and everyone has caught up physically they are sometimes left wanting.

 

[mightymouse75]

He was touted as a man child in the draft. And he hit the ground running then went backwards. Playing league games in the wafl where fyfe was still playing colts. It's so hit and miss. Would hate to be a recruiter

 

[mightymouse75]

But anyway jack. Thanks for last night. Finished my dissapointing foity season off with a high. You sqibber

 

[Forward Press]

Probably right. My understanding of Darling is that he was an early developer who basically had a man's body at 16 so he comes into the AFL at 18-19 without as much upside as others at the same age. Everyone (me included) thought he was going to develop further into a freak superstar but physically he was probably as good as he going to get at 19-20.

My own theory (and I have absolutely no evidence to back this up apart from my own observations) is that kids that dominate the junior ranks largely through their physical superiority struggle more in the big time. They haven't had to develop the sheer guts smaller kids do when playing against bigger kids and they don't develop those innate footy smarts other less physically developed/gifted Ki ds have to do to compete. Hence, when they get to the big time and everyone has caught up physically they are sometimes left wanting.

He was touted as a man child in the draft. And he hit the ground running then went backwards. Playing league games in the wafl where fyfe was still playing colts. It's so hit and miss. Would hate to be a recruiter

Kicked 50+ goals the year when Kennedy was out injured. This year, he was the inside 50 target only half as much compared to JK - naturally, kicked about half the goals too.

Still yet to hit his peak (23 or 24 years old I believe), sure he might not improve much further but I think that with JK's eventual decline in a couple of years he should improve and could be the 80 goal a year full forward I think he can be.

 

[Pusswah]

Massive pussy. Would be so much more if he could just play the game instead of looking for free kicks all day.


Christ, what a pussy.

 

[seanoff]

Someone from the WCE need to sit him down and tell him some real hard things. With video if need be.

Ie. Just go at the ball, don't play for free kicks, don't squib contests, try not to do dumb shit. He's big enough to stand up in contests, take the marks, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if his exit interview was just this

He's got a rep now. He's going to have to work really hard to try and get past it.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

What key forward combination kicked more goals this year than West Coast with JK and Darling?

 

[The 747]

What key forward combination kicked more goals this year than West Coast with JK and Darling?

What does that have to do with it, ya'll came 8th.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

What does that have to do with it, ya'll came 8th.

Well bagging out Darling for his season doesn't mean much if he was part of the most successful key forward tandem in the league.

 

[The 747]

Well bagging out Darling for his season doesn't mean much if he was part of the most successful key forward tandem in the league.

Cherry picking stats. Do you measure the most successful forwardline by the number of goals they kick, the number of entries they convert or the number of games they win?